A scarce post-war ‘gallantry at sea’ M.B.E. pair awarded to Colour-Sergeant A. D. Nowell, Royal Marines

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, in its Toye, Kenning & Spencer case of issue; South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (Mne. 1 A. D. Nowell, PO38478J, RM), extremely fine (2) £800-1000

M.B.E. London Gazette 5 December 1997:

‘For gallant and distinguished services at sea in October 1996.’

Andrew David Nowell served in H.M.S. Fearless as a member of 4 Assault Squadron, R.M., during the South Atlantic campaign, in which capacity, among other duties, he would have crewed L.C.Us and L.C.V.Ps during the landings at San Carlos on 21 May 1982, when men of 40 Commando and the Parachute Regiment were embarked.

All the while subjected to air attacks, Fearless helped evacuate the crew of the Antelope when, as famously captured on camera, she was damaged by the detonation of an UXB and sank.

Remaining on station for the duration of hostilities, Fearless’ gunners downed a Mirage on 27 May, but, in early June, while transporting Land Rovers to the shore at Choiseful Sound, one of her L.C.Us hit a mine with the loss of six members of crew.

In so far as Nowell’s subsequent award of the M.B.E. is concerned, it is worth speculating that his gallantry at sea was enacted as a member of the Fleet Standby Rifle Troop (F.S.R.T.), which force established in the early 1990s to assist R.N. ships with boarding operations; sold with brief research and several photographs from the South Atlantic campaign.