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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 189

Six: Petty Officer T. W. Milton, Royal Navy

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star, clasp, Pacific; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (J.97105 (Ch.B.23323) T. W. Milton. L.S. R.F.R.); Imperial Service Medal, E.II.R. (Thomas William Milton), mounted as worn, overall good very fine (6)

Thomas William Milton was born at Lambeth, London on 16 October 1904 and enlisted as Boy Class II on 1 May 1920. Posted first to Ganges, Milton was made Ordinary Seaman aboard Weymouth on 16 October 1922. He saw considerable service aboard a number of vessels, notably Waterhen, Vampire and Vesper.

Promoted Leading Seaman aboard H.M.S. Danae it was with this rank that Milton left the Royal Navy and joined to the Royal Fleet Reserve, on 6 October 1934. Mobilised for service briefly during the Munich Crisis from 28 September-1 October 1938, he returned once again on 31 July 1939 with the light cruiser Emerald.

This vessel started the war patrolling the North Sea, however she was swiftly moved to the Atlantic as it became clear that German raiders would be threatening British supply lines there. During this period Emerald was captained by Commodore Augustus Agar, who had already won himself a V.C. and a D.S.O. during the Great War. She was also notably engaged in the removal of gold from Britain to Canada, as part of Operation Fish. Posted to the Indian Ocean in 1941 Emerald was engaged in troop movements to and from the Middle East as well as standing by to support the Allied intervention in Iraq.

Posted to the Eastern Fleet as part of the Fast Group in December 1941 Emerald notably formed part of the escort for convoy D1. Later she was to join Force 'K' at Gold Beach during the invasion of Normandy.

Milton was invalided from service on 10 September 1945 and went on to work in telecommunications. He was awarded the Imperial Service Medal as Supervisor of the London Telecommunications Region on 4 May 1965. Living at 4 Dryad Close, Pendlebury, Manchester, Milton died on 21 December 1989; sold together with copied research comprising service papers, a London Gazette extract and probate details.

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Sold for
£160

Starting price
£110