British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Western Front Royal Naval Division M.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant A. P. Mecklenburg, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who escaped from internment in Belgium having been captured at Antwerp with the Benbow Battalion in 1914, and was twice wounded when winning the M.C. with the Nelson Battalion in the operations on the Ancre in November 1916

Military Cross, G.V.R.; 1914 Star, with clasp (L7/3545 A. Mecklenburg, Act. A.B. R.N.V.R., Benbow Bttn. R.N.D.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. A. P. Mecklenburg, R.N.V.R.) good very fine (4) £1800-2200

M.C. London Gazette 26 January 1917:

‘Temp. Sub-Lt. Albert Paul Mecklenburg, R.N.V.R. For conspicuous gallantry in action. Although twice wounded, he rallied his men close in front of a strongly held enemy position, and, charging right through, broke up all opposition and reached his correct objective.’

Albert Paul Mecklenburg was born in 1888 and was living in Isleworth, London, when he enlisted into the London Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Enrolled into the Benbow Battalion of the Royal Naval Division, he was present at the defence of Antwerp until 10 October 1914, when that city fell into German hands and he was interned in Holland along with the majority of his comrades in the battalion. Mecklenburg, however, made good his escape from Holland between 17 and 27 May, 1915, when he reported for duty at the Depot in England. He was appointed a Temporary Second Lieutenant R.N.V.R. on 23 September 1915, and posted to the R.N.D. Camp, Blandford, for officer training. On 5 December 1915 he was appointed to the Nelson Battalion M.E.F., and served at Mudros from January to May 1916, when he landed at Marseilles for service in France. He was seriously wounded by a gunshot wound in the arm during the operations North of the Ancre on 13 November 1916, winning the Military Cross for gallantry during this same action. After recovering from his wounds in England, Mecklenburg was appointed as a Liaison Officer between the Admiralty and the Ministry of Shipping from February 1918. He subsequently changed his name by deed poll to Mexborough. Sold with copy record of service.