A Second World War Middle East operations M.B.E. group of five awarded to Group Captain O. E. Bartlett, Royal Air Force, a long served ‘Explosives Officer (X)’

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf, together with a set of related miniature dress medals, generally good very fine (10) £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Roy Bartlett Collection of Awards to the R.N.A.S., R.F.C. and R.A.F..

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M.B.E. London Gazette 11 June 1942. The recommendation states:

‘This officer has been responsible for the organisation of the forward supply of fuel, ammunition and explosives to the Squadrons. By his pertinacity and resourcefulness he has overcome many unforeseen problems. There have been many instances when he has navigated not only the first R.A.F. convoys but also Army convoys. On one occasion he was successful in overcoming Army opposition to a certain journey which he carried out and ensured sufficient petrol for immediate operations. An example of his coolness is found when he took a Royal Air Force convoy through from Maddalena to the Army Co-Operation Squadron attached to XIII Corps, whilst the Army was carrying out a local withdrawal. This action saved the bulk of the aircraft from being lost and ensured reconnaissance for the Army.’

Mention in despatches London Gazette 1 January 1943 and 8 June 1944.

Owen Edward Bartlett, who was born in Forest Hill, London in January 1917, was granted a short service commission as a Pilot Officer in the R.A.F’s Equipment Branch in September 1939, his earlier ambition of qualifying for his “Wings” having been dashed at the Civil Flying School at Reading, where his examiner noted that his ‘general flying was very dangerous’. Possibly encouraged by this “dangerous” assessment, he decided to pursue a career as an Explosive’s Officer, in which field he qualified in early 1940, and in March of the following year he was embarked for the Middle East.

In his capacity as an explosives expert, Bartlett subsequently served in this theatre of war until January 1944, when he was evacuated home on the sick list, a period that witnessed him serving as an Acting Squadron Leader in command of assorted Maintainance Units (M.U.), in addition to periods of attachment to R.A.F. Headquarters in Malta, and in the Levant, Palestine, in 1943. And while “Malta G.C.” must have offered plenty of scope for an officer of his trade, it was in fact for his earlier work in command of No. 121 M.U. in North Africa that he was awarded his M.B.E. and two “mentions”. He ended the War as an Explosives Officer at Greenham Common.

Granted a permanent commission as a Flight Lieutenant in September 1945, Bartlett’s post-war career encompassed many commands, including nuclear bomb storage sites at R.A.F. Barnham and Faldingworth, and having been advanced to Group Captain in January 1967, he was placed on the Retired List in February 1972. He died in July 1979.

Sold with the recipient’s original M.B.E. warrant and M.I.D. certificates (2), together with what would appear to be a wartime photograph of him taken in North Africa.