Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 632

The Second World War campaign group of five attributed to Captain G. E. T. Carwithen, Royal Navy, a British Volunteer in the Finnish Army and later Royal Army Ordnance Corps

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Finland, Winter War 1939-40, 1 clasp, Kotijoukot, all mounted on velvet backing for display, British medals very fine, Finnish medal nearly extremely fine (5)

George Edward Terry Carwithen was born on 21 October 1906 in Edinburgh and attended Harrow School from 1920 until 1924, afterwards entering the R.N. Engineering College, Keyham in 1925.

Carwithen was rated Midshipman (E) with seniority on 15 September 1925 and is recorded from 1926-1929 as undergoing a Course of Instruction in Engineering at the Engineering College. He was promoted Sub-Lieutenant (E) with seniority on 1 January 1928, appearing in the London Gazette on 31 January 1928.

However, due to an unknown accident, Carwithen was invalided out and afterwards unemployed owing to ill health after operations. He was deemed medically unfit on 8 June 1929 and placed on the returned list, with gratuity. He had been admitted to the R.N. Hospital at Plymouth on 9 May with acute frontal sinusitis and was later discharged from hospital on 10 June, being invalided with frontal sinusitis, orbital cellulitus and the sequential loss of his right eye. Despite his illness, Carwithen was elected to the Insitution of Mechanical Engineers on 11 December 1931, with his previous promotion exempting him from completing the Associate Membership Examination. He later appeared on their Register of Members as a Graduate with his address listed as Mascot, Church Crookham, Aldershot, Hampshire.

At some point in 1939, Carwithen went to Finland to serve in the British contingent of the Finnish volunteer army in the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union. His specific motivations and actions during this engagement are unclear, but it is known that no members of the British volunteer company saw active combat. Carwithen served in this capacity seemingly until the end of the War in 1940, and was one of 223 British volunteers in the Finnish army for whom a medal was created 'in commemoration of the Support rendered to Finland during the War 1939-1940'. Carwithen served with solider number 25, and is noted to have returned to England to his Mascot address.

Carwithen joined the 4th Battalion, Royal Army Ordnance Corps on 28 November 1940, with whom he served for only 179 days before being discharged as a Private on 25 June 1941 owing to his 'having been appointed to a commission'. He was advanced Lieutenant (Ordnance Mechanical Engineer 3rd Class), with his promotion gazetted on 27 June 1941. Carwithen again appeared in the London Gazette on 6 November 1942 for his transfer as Lieutenant (Electrical and Mechincal Engineers 4th Class) and was later stationed in north-west Europe in 1944-45.

Carwithen, aged 41, appears on a list of 1st Class passengers travelling on the R.M.S. Nova Scotia from Liverpool to St. John's, Newfoundland, and back. Interestingly, on the departure document dated 26 January 1948, Carwithen lists his profession as farmer - however the return dated 24 February 1948 records his profession as marine engineer.

Carwithen relinquished his commission on 15 March 1954 with the rank of Temporary Captain. He later died at Umtali, Rhodesia under unclear circumstances on 14 August 1971; sold together with a wealth of copied research, including a copy of Carwithen's certificate for the Finnish Winter War Medal.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£420

Starting price
£110