A ROYAL NAVY OFFICER’S WW2, KOREA, MALAY PENINSULA AND M.B.E. GROUP AWARDED TO A LONG SERVING LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER

THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE, M.B.E. (MILITARY) MEMBER’S 2ND TYPE BREAST BADGE, 1939-45 STAR, ATLANTIC STAR WITH FRANCE AND GERMANY CLASP, AFRICA STAR, BURMA STAR, DEFENCE MEDAL, KOREA 1950-53 ‘CD. ENGR. R. E. LAWRENCE. R.N.’, 1ST ISSUE, UN KOREA, GENERAL SERVICE 1962, CLASPS MALAY PENINSULA ‘LIEUT. COMDR R. E. LAWRENCE. R.N.’ Mounted as worn, with corresponding miniature awards.

M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1969.

Lieutenant-Commander Raymond Edwin Lawrence and naval officer who served in many theatres during WW2, later the Korean war and Malaya. Awarded the M.B.E. in 1969.

A quick search of post WW2 Navy Lists show the following service. When he joined/left each ship is unknown, these being snapshots from single Navy lists.

1954 – Minesweeper H.M.S. Mariner
1956 – Minesweeper H.M.S. Mariner
1960 – Frigate H.M.S. Keppel
1966 – Destroyer H.M.S. Cassandra (likely aboard for Malay Peninsula clasp)
1968 – Anti-submarine training establishment H.M.S. Osprey

IN ADDITION TO THE MEDALS THE GROUP CONTAINS:

1) 1938 Gold (Gilt) naval sports award for the fencing, engraved ‘M.T.E. 1938 Epee R. E. Lawrence’. In its fitted case; ‘A. W. Matthews, Goldsmith and Jeweller, 32 High St. Gillingham, Kent’
2) Original photograph of the recipient in dress uniform
3) 1950 dated Congratulations Telegram, indicating Lawrence at the time was serving on the minesweeper H.M.S. Welcome
4) Pair of recipients Lieutenant-Commander rank epaulettes
5) A second pair of rank epaulettes but slip on types
6) Set of miniature awards, mounted as worn
7) 4 x Medal Ribbon bars
8) Box of issue for M.B.E., still with M.B.E. wearers clip and short length of ribbon

Condition GVF. A most complete group to a long serving Naval officer.