Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Auxiliary Patrol’ D.S.C. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant T. F. Lanktree, Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Australian Naval Reserve, who was decorated for his services in command of H.M.S. Hondo while part of the Auxiliary Patrol

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1918, unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (S. Lt. T. F. Lanktree, R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. T. F. Lanktree. R.N.R.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Australia Service Medal, last three officially impressed ‘T. F. Lanktree. R.A.N.R.(S)’; together with ‘Returned from active service’ badge, this numbered ‘35733’ on reverse, generally good very fine (9) £1,000-£1,400

D.S.C. London Gazette 14 July 1916:
‘For services in the Auxiliary Patrol between 1 January 1915 and 31 January 1916.’
The original recommendation states it was for services while in command of H.M.S. Hondo

Thomas Francis Lanktree was born in Dublin, Ireland, on 6 October 1893, and was appointed a temporary Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve on 19 February 1915. He was posted to the yacht Shemara from 25 February, before he assumed command of the trawler Hondo on 9 March 1915. It was for his services while so employed, that he was awarded the D.S.C. Further service in the Orkneys followed, before service in naval barracks from August 1916 to September 1917, when he once again resumed command of a trawler. Appointed acting Lieutenant on 17 August 1918, he was demobilised on 25 April 1919.

Appointed a probationary temporary Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve on 25 July 1941, Lanktree served in Rushcutter between 4 and 16 August 1941; Lonsdale between 17 and 18 August 1941; Brisbane from 2 August 1941 to 30 September 1942; Magnetic from 1 October 1942 to 13 February 1943; Torrens from 14 February to 30 September 1943; and Maitland from 8 April 1944 to September 1944, when he was drafted to Kuttabul. His appointment was terminated on 15 November 1945.

Sold with a monogrammed, hallmarked silver visiting card case, with two visiting cards for ‘Mr. Thomas F. Lanktree, R.N.R.’