Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War Knight Bachelor’s group of five awarded to Captain Sir Ernest H. Thornton, R.D., R.N.R., Commodore of the Union-Castle Line 1941-47

Knight Bachelor’s Badge, 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, hallmarks for London 1947, in its Royal Mint case of issue; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. E. H. Thornton. R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. E. H. Thornton. R.N.R.); Royal Naval Reserve Decoration, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1928, gilt rather worn on the first, very fine, otherwise nearly extremely fine (5) £600-£800

Captain Sir Ernest Hugh Thornton, R.D., R.N.R., a former commodore Commander of the Union-Castle Line, died in Kenya at the age of 67, on 24 November 1951. Born in 1884, he went to sea as an apprentice in 1900 in the four-masted barque, Matterhorn. Later he served in the ss. Vinebranch, and upon attaining his certificate as first mate, he joined the Union-Castle Line as fifth officer in the Norman in 1906. During the 1914-18 war he served as a lieutenant, R.N.R., and was in the battles of the Heligoland Bight, the Dogger Bank, and Jutland in the battle-cruiser Lion.

In 1919 he rejoined the Union-Castle Line and was appointed to the Balmoral Castle. After serving in various ships of the company as chief officer he was appointed to the command of the cargo steamer Hansa in 1929. Five years later found him in command of one of the intermediate passenger ships and late in 1937 he was appointed to the mail service. His last ship was the Capetown Castle, of 27,000 tons, in which he served from January, 1939, to July, 1946. During this period, in February, 1941, he was promoted to Commodore of the Union-Castle Line fleet, and in 1944 he received the honour of a knighthood for meritorious sea service in the Merchant Navy.

He retired in January, 1947, at the age of 63 and in the course of the next year went to settle at N’gong, near Nairobi, on account of his health. He leaves a widow and two daughters. (Obituary refers)

Sold with research including confirmation of entitlement to Second War medals including Atlantic, Pacific and Italy Stars.