Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second World War period C.B.E. group of eight awarded to Captain R. O. Putt, Merchant Navy, who was latterly Commodore Master of the British Tanker Company Fleet (the shipping organization of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company)

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; British War and Mercantile Marine Medals 1914-18 (Robert O. Putt); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Italy Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, generally good very fine (8) £350-400

C.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1946.

Robert Oldreive Putt was born at Exmouth in February 1890 and qualified as a 2nd Mate (Steamships) in Plymouth in January 1910. Having then added to his qualifications with a 1st Mate’s Certificate at Swansea in August 1911, and a Master’s Certificate at Cardiff in March 1913, he served in the Mercantile Marine throughout the Great War.

His subsequent commands in the 1939-45 War comprised the tankers British Power (May 1941 to October 1942), the British Merit (October 1942 to August 1943), and the British Endurance (October 1943 to March 1945), and ‘although he sailed in many dangerous waters, he never had the misfortune to be in command of a ship which was at any time seriously damaged or sunk by enemy action’. But he did qualify for the above described campaign medals (the official Board of Trade roll refers).

Captain Putt died suddenly at sea on 14 December 1947, whilst in command of the motor vessel British Isles. He is buried at Suez.