Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

A Second World War M.B.E. group of six awarded to Acting Lieutenant (E) A. J. S. Bennett, Royal Navy, Warrant Engineer of H.M.S. Hussar 1940-43

Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; War Medal, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46 (A/Lieut. (E), M.B.E. R.N.) together with related miniatures, both sets mounted as worn, very fine (12) £350-400

M.B.E. London Gazette 24 March 1942. Seedie’s Roll states that it was awarded for minesweeping in Northern waters as Warrant Engineer aboard H.M.S. Hussar.

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1944. Warrant Engineer, H.M.S. Hussar.

The group is accompanued by his original Certificate of Service for the period August 1921 to September 1935, when he was promoted acting Warrant Engineer, a contemporary photograph of H.M.S. Hussar, two Telegrams and a ‘flimsy’. One of the telegrams is offering congratulations from the Gossamer to the Hussar on the occasion that she managed to effect urgent repairs in time to join her sister minesweepers Harrier, Gossamer and Niger in support of the Edinburgh in action with the German destroyer Hermann Schoemann. This incident took place during the passage of the North Russian convoy QP.11 in April and May 1942.