Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

A Second War 1942 ‘Civil’ Division O.B.E. group of four awarded to Master Mariner, Captain H. L. Todd, Merchant Navy, and Dock Master and Pilot at Brighton, Trinidad and Tobago, during the 1930s
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt, in Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45, good very fine

Three: attributed to Mrs I. Todd
Defence and War Medals 1939-45; France, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, gilt and enamel, minor white enamel damage to last, generally very fine or better (7) £240-280

O.B.E. London Gazette 11 June 1942 (Captain, S.S. Garesfield)

Harold Lambton Todd (also known as Harold Loftus Todd) was born in Sunderland, in 1889. He ‘went to sea as an apprentice with the Palm Branch Line at the age of 15 and was awarded the O.B.E. in 1942 for meritorious service in coastal convoys.

In 1928 he joined the fleet of the Consett Iron Co. as second mate of the steamer Consett, and in 1935 became master.

A year later he was appointed captain of the Garesfield and sailed in her until January 1943, when he left the company’s service. He rejoined the company in 1944 as chief officer of the Camp Debert and in 1947 left the company’s employ again after serving as chief officer of the Ericus.

Captain Todd then served for a time with Hall Bros., Newcastle, and with Wm. France Fenwick and Co. Ltd. His last command with the France Fenwick Co. was in 1956 when he sailed in the Goodwood to Canada. Afterwards he was relieving for various companies until retiring from the sea earlier this year.’ (cutting from the Sunderland Echo refers)

Todd also served as Dock Master and Pilot at Brighton, Trinidad and Tobago in the 1930s. He was predeceased by his wife Ida, and died aged 65 at 12 Greystoke Avenue, Sunderland, in 1958.

Sold with the following original related documents: parchment Ordinary Apprentice’s Indenture, registered at the Port Middlesborough, dated 13 December 1907; parchment Certificate of Competency as First Mate, For Foreign-Going Steamships Only, dated 3 April 1914; parchment License of Pilot, dated 13 October 1930; Certificate of Competency as First Mate, Marine Board of Jamaica, dated 25 June 1931; newspaper cuttings and other ephemera.

Legion of Honour un-gazetted.