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Auction: 21001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals (conducted behind closed doors)
Lot: 358

An 1946 M.B.E. group of seven awarded to Wing Commander D. H. Fleet, Royal Air Force, late Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

A fluent linguist, Fleet saw varied service in North Russia in 1919 before putting his skills to further use as an Air Attache in Sweden and Finland during both the Second World War and the Cold War

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Civil Division, 2nd Type Member's (M.B.E.) Badge, silver; 1914-15 Star, unnamed; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. D. H. Fleet. R.N.V.R.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (357395. F/Sgt. D. H. Fleet. R.A.F.), mounted as worn, the Great War Pair polished, otherwise good very fine (7)

M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1946. Assistant Air Attache at the British Embassy at Stockholm.

It has been suggested that the award was made in the Civil Division in order to disguise the likelihood of the award being made for assisting the escape of Prisoners of War from Sweden during the Second World War.

Donald Hayton Fleet was born on 18 March 1895, the son of B. H. Fleet, who worked on the Orsk Goldfields of Siberia. Fleet enlisted in the ranks of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 30 December 1915, with his ability in Russian, French and German being noted early on. Having been commissioned, he saw service in North Russia in 1919. Fleet was Shipping Officer at Archangel, May-June 1919, before overseeing the Naval Shipping Department at Beresnik, July-August. He 'materially assisted in the evactuation of Naval Stores from Archangel in September' and had his commission terminated on account of being medically unfit on 7 February 1920. His Medals were sent to him at Theobald's Hill, Maidstone.

Fleet thence joined the Royal Air Force and rose throught the ranks, becoming a Warrant Officer and eventually a Flight Lieutenant by the time of the Second World War. Listed as Assistant Air Attache at Stockholm on 16 February 1940, he is likely to have assisted in the escape of allied Prisoners of War from Sweden. Fleet was appointed Air Attache to Helsinki on 1 October 1947 and died at Stockholm on 16 November 1952; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£420

Starting price
£240