Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Eight: Chief Engineer John F. Gilbert, Merchant Navy, decorated by the Belgian Government for services as Chief Engineer of the S.S. Sampep, a Liberty Ship under the Ministry of War Transport which supported the D-Day landings on ‘Juno’ Beach on 6 June 1944

British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals (John F. Gilbert); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, these last four privately impressed (Chief Engineer J. F. Gilbert Merchant Navy); Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold II, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver and enamel, French motto, with silver palm on riband; Croix de Guerre, L.III.R. bronze, with bronze palm on riband, good very fine (8) £300-£400

Order of Leopold and Croix de Guerre London Gazette 6 January 1948:
‘In recognition of Services during the War. - Chief Engineer, S.S. Sampep.’

John Frederick Gilbert was born in Liverpool on 18 February 1883 and gained his Board of Trade Certificate of Competency (No. 47919) in 1918. Serving as Seaman and Third Assistant Engineer during the latter stages of the Great War, Gilbert later took employment aboard a variety of merchant navy vessels including Runic, Canada, Persic, Shamrock and the Clan Line passenger and cargo vessel Clan Farquhar. Transferring to Baron Fairlie in August 1938 and Baron Belhaven on 28 May 1940, he was present aboard the latter when she was attacked by enemy aircraft whilst sailing in convoy out of Liverpool on 13 April 1941; struck by a bomb which passed down her funnel, the ship was forced to divert to Barry Docks for extensive repairs.

Posted to the S.S. Sampep as Chief Engineer, Gilbert witnessed the D-Day landings as part of the support convoy ‘England Thames Mechanised Transport Ships 1’. This is confirmed in the book D-Day Ships by John de S. Winser who lists the movements of the Sampep that day: ‘Loaded at London, left Thames 0630 6th June, arrived Juno 0700 7th. Convoy ETM 1, returned to Thames 9/10th.’

Gilbert survived the war and continued to serve as Chief Engineer for the White Star Line until his death in a Liverpool hospital in consequence of heart failure on 23 February 1951. He was buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard.

Sold with copied research.