NORTH RUSSIA 1917 & WW2 MI6 SPY? WW1 & WW2 MBE MEDAL GROUP WING COMMANDER FLEET

An amazing 'probable espionage' medal group Wing Commander D.H. Fleet M.B.E., who was a British subject, born in St Petersburg in 1895, and as a fluent linguist speaking Russian, French and German he served during WW1 in the R.N.V.R in Russia 1917 -19 and during WW2 in Sweden as 'Air Attaché', being awarded his M.B.E 1946.

Offered is The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Civil Division, 2nd Type Member's (M.B.E.) Badge, British War and Victory Medals, both impressed named, LIEUT. D.H. FLEET.R.N.V.R.; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, un named as issued; Royal Air Force Long Service & Good Conduct medal (G.VI.R.) impressed named 357395. F/SGT. D. H. FLEET. R.A.F. Court mounted for display. Comes with copies R.N.V.R service papers, medal roll, Air Force lists, London Gazette entries, 1939 absent voters list and probate entry.

M.B.E. London Gazette 1/1/1946. Assistant Air Attache at the British Embassy at Stockholm.

N.B.: During WW2 in Stockholm, all diplomats, attachés and other staff reported intelligence, took part in the collection of intelligence or performing special operations. It has been suggested that the award was made in the Civil Division in order to disguise the likelihood of the award being made for assisting the escape of Prisoners of War from Sweden or other activities.

Wing Commander Donald Hayton Fleet was a British Subject born on 18/3/1895, in St Petersburg. He enlisted into the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 30/12/1915, as an Able Seaman. At the time he was living in Bournemouth with his employment described as ‘independent’. His father Bertie Hayton Fleet of Orsk Goldfields Ltd, Nicolaiersk on Amur, Siberia was his next of kin.

He was initially attached to the 4th Battalion (?) 8/1/1916, but by February 1916 he was entered in Signal School Depot. 8/5/16 Drafted to Chatham Signal School. 31/1/1917 granted a temporary commission 2nd lieutenant and assigned to H.M.S. Intrepid as an interpreter. The Intrepid was in use as a depot ship in the White Sea as part of the British North Russia Squadron. 4/4/19 for duty with Naval Stores Office, White Sea. Letter in his file 22/11/19: Acted as Shipping Officer in Archangel in May – June, as representative of N.S. Depot at Beresnik during July – August, where he did particular useful work in connection with the transport of stores etc to the ships at --? Also materially assisting in the evacuation of Naval Stores from Archangel during September. This officer is willing and energetic 3/1/1920. Temporary commission terminated medically unfit 7/2/20.

At some stage he joined the Royal Air Force as an enlisted man and was awarded his L.S. & G.C. medal as a Flight Sergeant. Granted a temporary commission 16/2/1940 when a Warrant Officer and listed as Assistant Air Attaché at Stockholm on 16/2/1940. Posted to Helsinki 1/10/1947 as Wing Commander. He died at Stockholm 16/11/1952 still in service.

Sweden was one of only six countries in Europe which remained neutral throughout the war. Stockholm was one of the very few places with British diplomatic representation and all diplomats, attachés and other staff reported intelligence, took part in the collection of intelligence or performing special operations. Military and political intelligence had to be mixed and the information needed was not only about Sweden, but about other countries in occupied Europe as Stockholm had become a hub for espionage and refugees.

Wing Commander Fleet with his multiple language and communication skills would have been heavily involved in these activities. It is interesting that he remained in the region post war and into cold war. Further research as to what his M.B.E. was actually awarded for will be an interesting challenge. We personally believe that his length and breadth of Russian, German and european abilities made him the perfect candidate to act as the Stockholm 'intelligence' man in the embassy, as well as a probably 'fixer' and go between in neutral Sweden during the war and post war during the cold war.