Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An unusual Great War shipping intelligence officer’s O.B.E. pair awarded to Captain H. G. Philpott, Royal Navy

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, hallmarks for London 1919; British War Medal 1914-20 (Commr., R.N.), good very fine (2) £180-220

O.B.E. London Gazette 16 September 1919: ‘For valuable services as Shipping Intelligence Officer, Devonport.’

Henry Goschen Philpott, who was born at Chewton Mendip, near Bath in July 1866, obtained his 2nd Mate’s certificate in London in November 1887 and joined the P. & O. Steam Navigation Company in June 1893. In common with other officers of the company, he was commissioned into the Royal Naval Reserve, but in October 1897 was specifically recommended for R.N. training, as a result of which he was appointed a Probationary Lieutenant on the R.N’s Supplementary List in October of the following year.

He subsequently enjoyed a number of seagoing appointments in battleships and cruisers prior to being transferred on ‘Special Service’ to the receiving ship Colleen at Queenstown, Ireland a few weeks before the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914. Remaining similarly employed until March 1916, it seems improbable that he was not in one way or another connected with the clandestine world of Q-Ships, a contention supported by his very next appointment as a ‘Shipping Intelligence Officer 1st Class’ at Devonport. He was, however, only entitled to a single British War Medal 1914-20, in addition to his O.B.E. for services at the latter place. Philpott, who was advanced to Captain, R.N. in January 1919, died at Chewton Mendip in May 1936.