Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War M.B.E. group of eight awarded to Captain G. E. Johnson, Mercantile Marine, late Lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve, who was severely injured during the Great War during a Germany Torpedo Boat Raid in the English Channel

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver, in Royal Mint case of issue; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. G. E. Johnson. R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. G. E. Johnson. R.N.R.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1917, with bronze palm emblem on riband, emblem detached from riband on last, otherwise nearly extremely fine (8) £300-£400

M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1942: Captain George Edmund Johnson, Master, Merchant Navy.

French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 2 November 1917: Lieut. George E. Johnson, R.N.R.:
‘For distinguished services rendered during the War.’

The official French citation states: ‘Lieutenant George Edmund Johnson, R.N.R., H.M. Drifter Paramount, behaved bravely as a Drifter commander during a raid by German destroyers in the English Channel on the night of 17-18 March 1917.
He also captured off the Goodwins, in a strong breeze and a heavy sea, the sailboat Virgin del Soprocco, with 19 Germans on board.’

George Edmund Johnson was born in Hull, Yorkshire, on 7 April 1882, and received his Master’s Certificate on 31 October 1908. He was commissioned temporary Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve on 27 November 1914, and served during the Great War in command of the armed Drifters Acceptable from 11 December 1914, and Paramount from 29 April 1916. For his courage while commanding his Drifter on the occasion of the Channel raid by German Torpedo Boat Destroyers on the night of 17-18 March 1917 he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre- the official Admiralty report on the action states ‘The Drifter Paramount was hit in several places, and I regret to say the Skipper and two hands were severely injured.’

Johnson subsequently served during the Second World War in the Mercantile Marine as captain of the S.S. Mistley, and was created a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1942 New Year’s Honours’ List.

Sold with the original Bestowal Document for the French Croix de Guerre, this torn in the top left hand corner; and a large quantity of copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient and of the Mistley.