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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 233

The 1961 O.B.E. group of six awarded to Chief Engine Artificer W. Tomlinson, Merchant Navy, who survived the torpedoing of the M.V. Brittany and was later honoured for his service with Royal Mail Lines

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 2nd Type, Civil Division, Officer's (O.B.E.) breast Badge, silver-gilt, in its case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Burma Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, sold together with an archive of original material, very fine (6)

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1961.

Wilfred Tomlinson was born in Lincoln on 6 December 1901 to Fred, a primary school headmaster, and Bertha Tomlinson, who was an assistant at the school. Wilfred attended the same school his parents taught at but little else is known about his childhood. Tomlinson is working as an Apprentice Marine Engineer in 1921 at Harland & Woolfe, the same shipbuilders who launched the R.M.S. Titanic just 9 years previous.

There is little more documented about him until the Second World War, which he entered in May 1941 aboard M.V. Brittany. Tomlinson was serving as a merchant seaman, starting as 2nd Engine Artificer. M.V. Brittany was sunk on 29 October 1942 by U-509 near Madeira. 15 of her crew were killed.

Tomlinson was transferred to the R.M.S. Almanzora, which was reconstructed by Harland & Woolfe around the time that Tomlinson was an apprentice at the company. Almanzora was used as a troopship during the Second World War. He was only aboard this ship for two months before transferring to the S.S. Empire Peacock, a requisitioned American cargo ship. This posting lasted until 21 March 1944.

His next position was aboard the S.S. Empire Bittern, another Harland & Woolfe ship, from 25 May 1944 to 23 July 1944. During Operation Overlord, the Empire Bittern was scuttled as a blockship to reinforce the landings at Gold Beach, prior to the Normandy Invasion.

In his final wartime posting, Tomlinson was aboard H.M.T. Highland Monarch from 21 August 1944-4 October 1945. It was during this time that the ship sailed prisoners to and from Burma.

All of these ships were operated by Royal Mail Lines, founded in 1932. The company's operations were focused on cruise liners and cargo shipping around the Atlantic. Following his war service as a merchant seaman, Tomlinson continued to work for Royal Mail Lines. He was promoted to 1st Engine Artificer on 26 September 1949 and began service on R.M.S. Andes, the flagship of the RML fleet. He later transferred to S.S. Beresina on 8 March 1950, and to S.S. Essequibo on 12 April 1954, where he was promoted to Chief Engine Artificer.

Tomlinson served on the S.S. Durango from September 1955-July 1959 before being given the privilege of serving on the 'A-Liners'. These ships within the fleet operated luxury cruises for the wealthy and all began with the letter 'A'. Tomlinson served on R.M.S. Amazon, rated to carry 488 passengers from Britain to South America. The most notable guest of the R.M.S. Amazon was Her Royal Highness, Princess Margaret in 1960. Later, in the New Year's Honours of 1961, Tomlinson was awarded the O.B.E. for his services to the Empire.

His final postings were aboard the cargo liner M.V. Tuscany, M.V. Escalante, M.V. Logna (which is now an artificial reef), and finally in 1968, M.V. Otra. Tomlinson soon retired and returned to the UK, spending his final years in Surrey. He died in April 1982, at the age of 80.

Sold together with an archive containing:

i)
Letters from Harland & Woolfe and RML.

ii)
Application requests for WW2 stars, including rejection for Africa and Pacific stars.

iii)
Photograph of Tomlinson upon retirement.

iv)
Copied research documents.

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Estimate
£200 to £300

Starting price
£160