A Collection of Medals to The Royal Engineers

An early Northern Ireland anti-terrorist operations M.B.E. group of six awarded to Warrant Officer Class 1 A. Everitt, Royal Engineers

The Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) 2nd type; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine, Malaya (1872181Spr., R.E.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals; Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., Regular Army (1872181 W.O. Cl. 2, R.E.), mounted as worn, the last with minor official correction, generally very fine and better (6) £300-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to The Royal Engineers.

View
Collection

M.B.E. London Gazette 12 June 1958. The recommendation states:

‘Regimental Sergeant-Major Everitt was, on first promotion, posted to this T.A. Regiment in June 1956 at the start of its conversion from Coast Artillery to Royal Engineers. Until January 1957, the only qualified R.E. Officer was the Regular Adjutant. During most of the period June 1956 to November 1957, the Regiment was short of one Permanent Staff Instructor. The fact that the conversion has been successful and that the Regiment has almost doubled its strength since conversion, has been due to a very great extent to the moral courage, strength of purpose and tact of this Warrant Officer.

He has had to undertake far greater responsibility than normal in connection with training, including the training of Officers. In addition to his normal duties, and outside his normal responsibility, he has undertaken many operational tasks, connected with action against the I.R.A., in the execution of demolitions on the border and the training of Regular Army personnel and Police in dealing with explosives.

The necessity for guards by T.A. personnel on the T.A. centre has put a further burden of responsibility on his shoulders.

Throughout the whole period, he has shown outstanding loyalty, self-sacrifice and devotion to duty. His conduct has been an example to all.’

Albert Everitt was serving with 146 (Antrim) Battery, Field Engineer Regiment, R.E. (Territorials) in Belfast, Northern Ireland at the time of receiving his M.B.E., ‘for special services in connection with terrorist activities.’

Sold with original M.B.E. warrant and related letter of congratulation from Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Kimmins, K.B.E., C.B., dated 18 June 1958, who approved the recommendation; and three communications from Roy Jenkins, M.P., regarding a transport issue raised by the recipient in the mid-1980s.