A post-War ‘Civil’ M.B.E., Second War Malta Convoy D.S.M. group of eight awarded to Sick Berth Petty Officer C. E. Buddin, Royal Navy, who delayed treatment of his own serious wounds to help his shipmates when serving in H.M.S. Cairo during Operation ‘Harpoon’ in June 1942

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (M.35924 C. E. Buddin. S.B.P.O.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (M.35924 C. E. Buddin. L.S.B.A. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (M.35924 C. E. Buddin. L.S.B.A. H.M.S, St. Angelo.) mounted court-style, light contact marks, otherwise otherwise good very fine (8) £1,600-£2,000

Spink, November 1998.

M.B.E. London Gazette 2 June 1962.

For his services as Assistant Secretary to the Local Committee of the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust, Portsmouth.

D.S.M. London Gazette 22 September 1942:

‘For bravery and resolution in H.M. Ships while escorting an important convoy to Malta.’

The original recommendation states:

‘During 14 June 1942, H.M.S. Cairo was in action with strong enemy air forces, and on 15 June was engaged with a superior enemy surface force. On 14 June, Sick Berth Petty Officer Buddin showed skill and devotion to duty in tending the wounded and on 15 June, when severely wounded, showed unselfishness in requesting the Medical Officer to leave him until all other wounded had been attended to.’

Charles Ephraim Buddin was born in Mitcham, London on 13 October 1902, and entered the Royal Navy as a Probationary Sick Berth Attendant in October 1920. Having then served in the gunboat H.M.S. Aphis on the China Station from April 1929 to May 1931, he was advanced to Leading Sick Berth Attendant and awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in November 1935.

In August 1939, after additional service off Palestine, he joined the cruiser Cairo and he remained similarly employed until being seriously wounded on the Malta run in Operation ‘Harpoon’ in June 1942, wounds that necessitated the amputation of a leg.

In the interim, Cairo saw action in the Norwegian campaign, in which she was damaged by enemy aircraft off Narvik on 28 May 1940, with a loss of 10 killed. In his capacity as a senior Sick Berth Attendant, Buddin would have been much in demand in treating those who were wounded. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 1 July 1941, refers).

Following protracted repairs, Cairo was employed in the Western Approaches but in June 1942, she was deployed as an anti-anticraft cruiser to the Malta convoy Operation ‘Harpoon’. Running the gauntlet of relentless air attacks, in addition to a clash with an Italian light cruiser division which became known as the battle of Pantelleria, Cairo suffered resultant damage and casualties, not least on the 14th and 15th, including two 6-inch shell hits from the enemy cruiser Eugenio di Savoia. As cited in the recommendation for his resultant award of the D.S.M., Buddin carried out sterling work in treating the ship’s casualties, even after he was himself seriously wounded on the 15th.

In consequence of those wounds, which led to the amputation of a leg, he was evacuated home and, ultimately, invalided ashore. He received his D.S.M. in a Buckingham Palace investiture held in May 1944.

Afterwards he moved to Portsmouth as Assistant Secretary to the Local Committee of the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust, and eight years later was appointed the Secretary, which services resulted in the award of his M.B.E. in June 1962.

Sold with full research.