A Second World War B.E.M. group of seven awarded to Carpenter J. Keen, Merchant Navy

British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (John Keen); British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals 1914-18 (John Keen); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted as worn, good very fine or better (7)
£200-250

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to Merchant Seamen and D.E.M.S. Gunners.

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B.E.M. London Gazette 11 June 1942.

John Keen, who was born in Barrow-in-Furness in September 1885, served in the Mercantile Marine in the Great War and was issued with his British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals in July 1921.

His subsequent award of the B.E.M. was in respect of his services as a Carpenter in the S.S. Capetown Castle, aboard which ship he served in from May 1941 until coming ashore in September 1942, when he was appointed an Inspecting Shipwright for the Union Castle Mail Steamship Company at Belfast.

Sold with the recipient’s original Buckingham Palace investiture letter, dated 16 September 1942, and General Register and Record Office of Shipping and Seaman authority to wear for his 1939-45 campaign awards.