Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An extremely rare Second World War B.E.M. and Bar group of six awarded to Donkeyman Mahomed Tabet, Merchant Navy, his second award stemming from his gallantry on the occasion his ship was torpedoed and sunk on returning from Normandy in early July 1944

British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 2nd issue, with Second Award Bar (Mahomed Tabet); British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals (Mohamed Tabet); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45, mounted as worn on two separate bars, generally very fine or better (6) £2500-3000

A total of 40 Bars were awarded to the B.E.M. in the period 1916-1992, one of them to 1st type Medal of the Order. And of these just 13 such awards were made in the 1939-45 War, eight of them to civilians and/or members of the Merchant Navy.

B.E.M. London Gazette 4 January 1944.

Bar to B.E.M. London Gazette 9 January 1945:

‘The ship returning in convoy from Normandy to the United Kingdom was torpedoed. She broke in two and had to be abandoned. One boat was successfully launched and the majority of the crew got into it. Others were forced to jump into the sea but all were later rescued. Donkeyman Tabet Mahomed showed great courage, initiative and promptness. He returned to the engine-room to shut off the engines, although the ship was breaking in two and there was a grave risk of his being trapped below. Later, while in the boat, he was of great help and by his coolness and bearing set a fine example to the others.’

Mahomed Tabet, who was born in Aden in January 1883, the son of a British father and Arabic mother, served in the Mercantile Marine in the Great War, his campaign awards being sent to him via the Merchant Marine Offices in South Shields in January 1922.


Remaining employed as a Donkeyman over the coming decades, he was serving in the cargo tramp S.S. Baron Ramsay at the time of being awarded his B.E.M. and in the steamer S.S. Glendinning at the time of receiving his Second Award Bar, this latter on the occasion of his ship being torpedoed and sunk in the Channel on 5 July 1944 by the U-953, commanded by Kapitanleutnant Karl-Heinz Marbach, a noted U-boat ace and holder of the Knight’s Cross - although gazetted as a B.E.M., his second award is verified as a Bar on the relevant Admiralty award card.

Four of the Glendinning’s crew were killed by the impact of the torpedo, but the mortally wounded Master, John Cromarty, 20 crewman, seven D.E.M.S. gunners and one Naval signalman were picked up by M.L. 250, under Lieutenant-Commander J. D. S. Header of the 19th M.L. Flotilla, and later transferred to H.M.S. Fernie, under Lieutenant J. A. Tircker, R.N., and were landed at Sheerness.

The Glendinning’s senior surviving officers, Chief Officer Mr. W. MacIntyre, and Second Officer Mr. T. Lampard, subsequently stated:
 
‘We left Arromanches Beach pontoon at 1930 on 4 July and proceeded to the convoy anchorage. At 0730 on 5 June we weighed anchor and proceeded to convoy assembly point joining convoy FTC.27 at 1100 the same day. The convoy numbered 18 ships formed in two columns. We were Vice-Commodore, leading ship of the starboard column, abreast of the Commodore's ship. The convoy was escorted by one destroyer H.M.S. Fernie ... At 2156 on 5 July sailing at a speed of 7.5 knots a violent explosion  occurred underneath the ship. The weather was fine, visibility good. The explosion occurred between No 2 hatch and the bridge. One of the crew reported that a few seconds before the explosion D.E.M.S. Gunner Griffiths who was at the starboard bridge Oerlikon, rushed into the wheelhouse to get his life jacket. From this it would appear he may have seen the track of a torpedo, but this cannot be confirmed as he was killed by the explosion. After the explosion destroyers in the vicinity dropped death charges and I understand the Corvette made contact with a Submarine.
 
The Master was with me (Chief Officer) on the bridge, and the explosion threw us both upwards and backwards. The after end of the ship remained on an even keel for a while, then gradually listed to starboard. I ran to my boat station and lowered the port lifeboat, with the majority of the crew already in it. I climbed down the ladder and jumped into the water the lifeboat by now being clear. I hung onto a plank and after fifteen minutes in the water was picked up by Motor Launch 250, two of the Motor Launch officers diving overboard and picking up the Master and Wireless Operator who we pulled on board. The Master was suffering from a fractured skull and was unconscious when picked up. He was transferred to H.M.S. Fernie where he died, though the Doctor and First Aid Party in this vessel worked untiringly in their efforts to save his life.
 
At 2226 the after end of the ship turned over and sank with the stern high in the air. The Motor Launch put down scrambling nets and all the survivors from the lifeboat climbed aboard. At 2315 all were transferred to H.M.S. Fernie, and a thorough search for more survivors was made but none found. The destroyer took us to Sheerness where we landed at 1330 on 6 July.
 
I would like to bring to notice the outstanding conduct of the Arab Donkeyman T. Mahomed (i.e Tabet Mahomed). After the explosion, this man came up from the engine room, put on his life jacket, then returned to the stokehold and shut off the main steam. This man, who's address is 9 Spring Lane, South Shields, remained quite cool and calm throughout, rendering valuable assistance in the boat, and set an inspiring example to all.’

Withdrawn