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Auction: 21001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals (conducted behind closed doors)
Lot: 350

(x) A 1968 O.B.E. group of five awarded to Lieutenant J. S. Agate, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, whose post-war successes with the DuPont Corporation in Londonderry made him a prominent target for IRA gunmen, who gunned him down on his doorstep on 2 February 1977

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Civil Division, 2nd Type Officer's breast Badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star, clasp, Pacific; War Medal 1939-45, minor contact marks, good very fine (5)

O.B.E. London Gazette 8 June 1968.

Jeffrey Stanford Agate was born 11 January 1919 to Charles and Ethel Agate in Alipore, West Bengal. In 1939 he was living on Wandsworth Road, London and working as an Electrical Engineer. He was a member of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and on 17 December 1939 was appointed a Temporary Sub-Lieutenant and loaned to a R.N.Z.N. Squadron. By 8 February 1940 he was serving aboard H.M.S. Victory, a shore establishment. However on 28 August 1940 he had transferred to the heavy cruiser H.M.S. Devonshire, this time with the rank of Temporary Lieutenant (Engineering). During this time the Devonshire was operating in the Mediterranean, and on 14 January 1941 he is reported to have been transferred from the Volunteer Reserve to the Royal Navy. He later saw service aboard the Z-Class destroyer H.M.S. Myngs, remaining with this vessel until at least 7 June 1943. The last vessel he is confirmed to have served aboard is the destroyer HMS Tuscan on 15 February 1945.

Agate was released from Naval Service on 3 July 1946. At some point during the course of the war he also married Alice Vera Agate (nee Dand).

Post-war Jeffrey returned to civilian life where he recommenced his old work as an Engineer; in the late 1950s he was appointed as an Assistant Chief Engineer with DuPont. By August 1960 he became Chief Engineer for their factory in Maydown, Londonderry. In 1961 he became Assistant Works General Manager and finally in January 1963 the Works General Manager. On 8 June 1968 he was awarded an O.B.E. in the Queen's Birthday Honours. He continued to work at the Maydown factory, developing it into a successful business. In January 1969 he was appointed to the Londonderry Development Commission. During his career he was also, President of the British Institute of Management, Chairman of the regional branch of the Confederation of British Industry and one of the Independent members of the Northern Ireland Economic Council. On 6 August 1976 he was appointed as Deputy Lieutenant for County Borough.

Unfortunately his success also put him on a list of targets considered for assassination by the IRA. As he arrived at his home in Talbot Park, Londonderry on 2 February 1977 he was ambushed by two gunmen who fired half a dozen rounds, hitting Agate in the chest and head. Tragically he died before medical assistance could reach him. He had no issue but was survived by his wife, Alice. At his cremation the former premier of Northern Ireland, Brian Faulkner paid tribute to him:

"one of nature's gentlemen - true humility, personal charm, absolute integrity - all coupled with great humility. Those are the qualities for which most of us remember Jeff Agate."

Sold together with original instructions from the Palace relating to the award of his O.B.E. and copied research including newspaper cuttings, naval muster rolls and Gazette entries as well as a memory stick containing digital copies of all research.

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Sold for
£350

Starting price
£240