Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-War O.B.E. group of seven attributed to Colonel K. Hunt, Royal Marines

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type, breast badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn; together with the related miniature awards, these similarly mounted; a Royal Life Saving Society Swimming Proficiency Medal, bronze, the reverse named ‘K. Hunt. Dec. 1920’; a Royal Marines Boxing Championship Prize Medal, silver, unnamed, in fitted case; and two miscellaneous silver prize medals, one unnamed, the other named ‘N.G.C. 1954. Col. K. Hunt’, good very fine and better (7) £240-£280

O.B.E. London Gazette 12 June 1947.

Kenneth Hunt was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Marines on 1 October 1920, and served in H.M. Ships Ramillies and Royal Oak, before joining the Fleet Air Arm in 1925, serving in carriers in the Home Fleet and on the China Station. He returned to General Service in 1930, and after a period at the Deal Depot served in H.M. Ships Erebus and Frobisher. From 1933 to 1936 he was Adjutant at Eastney, returning to sea in H.M.S. Dragon, and was serving in H.M.S. Shropshire when the Second World War commenced.

During the Second World War Hunt served as Second in Command of 10th Battalion, Royal Marine Division, and then as Commanding Officer of 5th Battalion, Royal Marine Division and later 7th Battalion, Royal Marine Division in Sicily. He was the first Royal Marine Officer to command a Naval establishment, when he joined H.M.S. Robertson in 1944. He then went out to Bombay on the Staff. Post-War he served as Commanding Officer at Eastney, finally retiring in 1952.

A fine athlete, Hunt represented the Royal Navy at cricket and golf, and captained both the Royal Navy and Combined Services hockey team. He died on 16 March 1971, aged 68.

Sold together with the named Bestowal Document for the O.B.E.; Commission appointing Kenneth Hunt, Gentleman, a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Marines, dated 1 October 1920; a Naval Message sent to the recipient; a copy of the Order of Service for the Service of Thanksgiving to mark the 300th Anniversary of the Royal Marines, St. Paul’s Cathedral, 24 July 1964; and two newspaper cuttings, one relating to the recipient’s retirement, and the other to his death, the first including a photograph of the recipient.