Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War 1944 ‘Merchant Navy’ M.B.E., and superb campaign combination group of nine to Chief Steward R. H. Whitaker, M.V. Rangitata, Merchant Navy, a veteran of three conflicts, including serving as a Private with the 12th Lancers during the Second Boer War

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5290 Pte. R. H. Whittaker [sic]. 12th: Rl: Lancers); British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals (Richard H. Whitaker) MMWM officially renamed; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted court-style as originally worn, generally very fine or better (9) £500-600

M.B.E. London Gazette 4 January 1944, Richard Henry Whitaker, Esq, Chief Steward, Merchant Navy.

Richard Henry Whitaker was born in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, in November 1880. He served as a Private with the 12th Lancers during the Second Boer War, prior to his long and extensive service with the Merchant Navy. Whitaker served as Steward in Charge with the S.S. Howrata during the Great War. He served as Chief Steward of M.V. Rangitata during the Second War. The Rangitata was a passenger and cargo ship built for the New Zealand Shipping Company at Clydebank in 1929. She was requisitioned as a personnel carrier in December 1939, and served as a passenger transport ship (including evacuating children from Britain to the USA) until 1941, when she was converted to a troopship with a capacity for 2,600 men. During the course of the war the Rangitata had several narrow escapes from German surface raiders and U-Boats.

Sold with copied research, and a photographic image of recipient.