Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Chief Skipper W. H. Makings, Royal Naval Reserve, who was mentioned in despatches for his command of minesweeping trawlers in 1939-45 War

1914-15 Star (D.A. 294 W. H. Makings, D.H., R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (294 D.A. W. H. Makings, L.D.H., R.N.R.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Naval Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (4909 C. W. H. Makings, P.O., R.N.R.), good very fine (7) £300-350

William Henry Makings was born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, in December 1891. A Fisherman by trade, he enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve as a Deck hand in April 1913 and was quickly called up in August 1914, when he joined the R.N. establishment H.M.S. Pekin at his home port and was employed in minesweeping duties in assorted trawlers.

Discharged as a Leading Deck Hand in March 1919, Makings re-enrolled in the R.N.R. a few months later and, between the Wars, participated in numerous training exercises and was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in November 1927, in addition to gaining advancement to Acting Skipper in November 1937.

Mobilised in August 1939, Makings commanded minesweeper trawlers for the duration of the War, namely the James Lay until August 1940, the Ben Bheulah until February 1941 and the Cranefly from April 1941 until the end of hostilities. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 14 June 1945, refers), and was placed on the Retired List in June 1945; sold with extensive copied research, including R.N.R. service record, trawler histories and a portrait photograph.