Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War B.E.M. group of three awarded to Private J. E. Matkin, Hampshire Regiment, late Royal Navy

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (No. 5506341 Pte. John Ernest Matkin.); 1914-15 Star (K.19970 J. E. Matkin. Sto.1. R.N.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (K.19970 J. E. Matkin. Sto.1. R.N.) last with replacement ring suspension, the Great War awards nearly very fine, the BEM good very fine (3) £240-£280

B.E.M. London Gazette 21 October 1941:
‘In recognition of gallant conduct in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner.’

The original Recommendation states: ‘On 19 March 1941, Private Matkin was one of a rescue party who went to assist a squad of men belonging to the Royal Engineers who had encountered gas while on bomb disposal work. On arriving at the site they found two men lying on the surface unconscious, others suffering from the effect of gas poisoning, and a third lying in the camouflet crater. Private Matkin immediately volunteered to attempt the rescue of the man in the camouflet. He descended into the crater, tied a rope round the unconscious man, and assisted him to the surface where he died shortly afterwards. On reaching the surface Private Matkin suffered from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Private Matkin displayed gallantry, selfless devotion to duty, and disregarded of his own personal safety of an exceptionally high order, particularly as he knew that his service respirator was of no protection against the gas in the crater.’

John Ernest Matkin was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, on 28 September 1888, and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class on 16 August 1913. He was promoted Stoker First Class on 16 August 1914, and served during the Great War in H.M.S. Albemarle. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 11 October 1928. Given his age, and the change from the Royal Navy to the Hampshire Regiment, it is possible that the British Empire Medal was awarded to Stoker J. E. Matkin’s son, who also had the same Christian names as his father.