25
Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry
A post-War O.B.E. group of five awarded to Captain R. Ramsbotham, Royal Navy, later Home Guard, whose unpublished memoirs covering over 40 years of naval and coastguard service are held by the Imperial War Museum
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. R. Ramsbotham, R.N.), gilded; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. R. Ramsbotham. R.N.); Defence Medal, good very fine (5) £240-£280
---
O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1955.
Reginald Ramsbotham was born on 1 May 1891 and, after time at Dartmouth and Osborne, was promoted to the rank of Midshipman on 15 May 1908 and was appointed to the battleship Albemarle, serving in her into 1909. Later in 1909, he served in the battleship King Edward VII. In 1909 and 1910 he served in Sapphire and Bellona. In 1910-11 he served in Vanguard.
Promoted Lieutenant on 15 June 1913, he was appointed to the battleship Queen on 29 July, 1914, serving in her until 22 November 1914 when he was appointed to the destroyer Mentor for navigating duties.This would establish the pattern of his wartime service, in which he served as navigating officer in a number of mostly small ships. He was appointed to the old torpedo gunboat Hazard, which was operating as a depot ship in support of a submarine flotilla, as navigator on 31 January 1915. Ramsbotham was appointed to the destroyer Kempenfelt for navigation on 13 July 1916, remaining there until at least October, 1917. He later served in Shakespeare, Valkyrie and Montrose.
After the war, Ramsbotham served as Navigating Officer of the flotilla leader H.M.S. Stuart as she assisted in the evacuation of White Russian troops and refugees from Black Sea ports in 1919 and 1920. He served in the light cruiser Diomede on the China Station between 1922 and 1925 and in the aircraft carrier Eagle on the Mediterranean Station in 1926, in June of which year he was promoted to the rank of Commander. Ramsbotham served for two years as executive officer in Hermes on the China Station in 1927 through about October 1929. He commanded the Royal New Zealand Navy sweeping sloop Laburnum in the Pacific from 28 August 1931 through 1938. His memoirs contain much colour regarding venereal disease and homosexual behaviour on these two ships during this period.
Ramsbotham served as King's Harbour Master and Captain of the Dockyard, Sheerness from 1935 through 1938 before becoming Inspector of Coastguard for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire from 1938 until 1951. During the Second War he served with 4th/6th North Riding Battalion, Home Guard.
His papers and memoirs, which are written in the form of a series of letters to his brother Viscount Soulbury, cover his naval service from 1908 to 1938 and his years in the Coastguard from 1938 to 1951.
A post-War O.B.E. group of five awarded to Captain R. Ramsbotham, Royal Navy, later Home Guard, whose unpublished memoirs covering over 40 years of naval and coastguard service are held by the Imperial War Museum
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. R. Ramsbotham, R.N.), gilded; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. R. Ramsbotham. R.N.); Defence Medal, good very fine (5) £240-£280
---
O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1955.
Reginald Ramsbotham was born on 1 May 1891 and, after time at Dartmouth and Osborne, was promoted to the rank of Midshipman on 15 May 1908 and was appointed to the battleship Albemarle, serving in her into 1909. Later in 1909, he served in the battleship King Edward VII. In 1909 and 1910 he served in Sapphire and Bellona. In 1910-11 he served in Vanguard.
Promoted Lieutenant on 15 June 1913, he was appointed to the battleship Queen on 29 July, 1914, serving in her until 22 November 1914 when he was appointed to the destroyer Mentor for navigating duties.This would establish the pattern of his wartime service, in which he served as navigating officer in a number of mostly small ships. He was appointed to the old torpedo gunboat Hazard, which was operating as a depot ship in support of a submarine flotilla, as navigator on 31 January 1915. Ramsbotham was appointed to the destroyer Kempenfelt for navigation on 13 July 1916, remaining there until at least October, 1917. He later served in Shakespeare, Valkyrie and Montrose.
After the war, Ramsbotham served as Navigating Officer of the flotilla leader H.M.S. Stuart as she assisted in the evacuation of White Russian troops and refugees from Black Sea ports in 1919 and 1920. He served in the light cruiser Diomede on the China Station between 1922 and 1925 and in the aircraft carrier Eagle on the Mediterranean Station in 1926, in June of which year he was promoted to the rank of Commander. Ramsbotham served for two years as executive officer in Hermes on the China Station in 1927 through about October 1929. He commanded the Royal New Zealand Navy sweeping sloop Laburnum in the Pacific from 28 August 1931 through 1938. His memoirs contain much colour regarding venereal disease and homosexual behaviour on these two ships during this period.
Ramsbotham served as King's Harbour Master and Captain of the Dockyard, Sheerness from 1935 through 1938 before becoming Inspector of Coastguard for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire from 1938 until 1951. During the Second War he served with 4th/6th North Riding Battalion, Home Guard.
His papers and memoirs, which are written in the form of a series of letters to his brother Viscount Soulbury, cover his naval service from 1908 to 1938 and his years in the Coastguard from 1938 to 1951.
Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria
Sale Date(s)
Venue Address
General delivery information available from the auctioneer
If you are successful in purchasing lot/s being auctioned by us and opt for the item/s to be sent to you, we will use the following methods of shipment:
Within the UK
If you live within the UK, items will be despatched using Royal Mail Special Delivery. This service provides parcel tracking (via the Royal Mail website) and next weekday delivery (betwen 9am and 1pm). Items delivered within the UK are covered by our insurance company. Heavy and bulky lots will be sent by courier, in discussion with the client.
Outside of the UK
If the item/s being sent are worth under £1000 in total they are sent using Royal Mail’s Signed For International service. This ensures the item must be signed for when it is delivered.
If the item/s being sent are valued at over £1000 in total they will be sent using FedEx. This service allows next day delivery to customers in many parts of the US and parcels are fully trackable using the FedEx website.
Shipping Exceptions
Certain lots such as those containing glass or sharp implements, etc., may not be suitable for in-house shipping within or outside of the UK. Please contact Noonans with any queries.
Important Information
Buyers Premium: 24%
Other Information: Please visit www.dnw.co.uk for more information
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL BUYERS
All lots in DNW auctions are automatically reserved at the bid step which reflects 80% of the lower estimate figure, unless otherwise instructed by the vendor.
All multiple lots (lots containing two or more items) with the exception of designated sets of notes, are sold as viewed and not subject to return. Buyers are recommended to view such lots.
Lots marked ‘x’ in dark blue are subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the EU.
Important Notice Advance Bidding Facility
Please note that our easy-to-use advance bidding facility, which replaces the ‘old-fashioned’ commission bid system, provides all bidders with total control over their bids right up to the point that the lot is offered for sale.
Bids made online cannot be seen by others and do not go live until the actual moment that the lot in question is being offered for sale. All bids can be easily altered or cancelled by the bidder prior to this point. An automated confirmatory email will be sent confirming all bids and alterations.
Anyone with a valid email address can easily register to bid online.
There is no additional charge for online bidding and it is not necessary to pre-register a payment card in order to do so.
It is recommended that all bidders execute their own bids, either prior to the auction by using this facility or live as the auction is taking place.
Whilst we are still happy to execute all bids submitted in writing or by phone, fax or any other method, it should be noted that all bids left with us will be entered at our offices using the same bidding facility to which all our clients now have access. There is, therefore, no better way of ensuring the accuracy of your advance bids than to place them yourself online.
For any support queries please contact: Ian Anderson ian@dnw.co.uk (+44) 20 7016 1751