Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.B.E. pair awarded to Shipwright Lieutenant-Commander A. J. Mitchelmore, Royal Navy

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1919; British War Medal 1914-20 (Shpt. Lt., R.N.), this last with minor official correction to surname, very fine or better (2) £140-160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals for Services at Sea from the Collection of the Late Oliver Stirling Lee.

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M.B.E. London Gazette 27 May 1919. The original recommendation states:

‘For constant good work in carrying out repairs to vessels of the Sixth Flotilla. This officer has had an exceptional amount of repair work caused by enemy action and collision casualties and by his energy and zeal has on many occasions reduced the periods of vessels being out of action. I fully concur in Captain Tomkinson’s remarks. The high state of efficiency of the Dover Patrol destroyers is due in a large extent to the good work of Shipwright Lieutenant Mitchelmore.’

Augustus John Mitchelmore was born at Dartmouth, Devon in March 1863 and entered the Royal Navy as a Skilled Shipwright in May 1889. Advanced to Chief Carpenter in June 1912, he served at Kowloon Dockyard, Hong Kong from August 1913 until March 1917, when he returned to England to take up his appointment with the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla, Dover Patrol, at Attentive II. Awarded the M.B.E. for this latter work, Mitchelmore was also advanced to Shipwright Lieutenant in the same period, and was placed on the Retired List in June 1919. His promotion to Shipwright Lieutenant-Commander (Retired) took place in September 1926 and he died in March 1929.