Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War Mediterranean operations B.E.M. group of five awarded to Petty Officer Radio Mechanic S. A. Gillson, Royal Navy

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (P.O. Rad. Mech. Stanley A. Gillson, P/MX. 124703); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, good very fine and better (5) £180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals for Services at Sea from the Collection of the Late Oliver Stirling Lee.

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B.E.M. London Gazette 11 December 1945.

Stanley Albert Gillson was awarded his B.E.M. in respect of services aboard H.M.S. Aurora in the Mediterranean (Seedie’s refers). A celebrated cruiser that won the sobriquet “The Silver Shadow”, the Aurora amassed no less than nine Battle Honours for her part in the Second World War, ranging from “Norway 1940” to “South of France 1944”. Badly damaged by bombs in the Aegean in October 1943, she was repaired at Taranto before rejoining the Mediterranean Fleet in April 1944. Given it was the intention of the relevant Naval Honours and Awards Committee to make their final recommendations based upon ‘operational service throughout the War’, it is not improbable that Gillson’s B.E.M. reflected participation in many of the Aurora’s actions, possibly even as far back as her time in the Aegean.