Description

WW2 Commander of the Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.), attributed to Commodore William Edward Blackwood Magee C.B.E., D.S.O. and M.I.D, who was awarded the D.S.O. for the Baltic in 1919 on H.M.S. Watchman, and the CBE for convoy duties in WW2.

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.) Military, in Garrard and Co case of issue. It comes with extensive research, London Gazettes, service records and notes. 

C.B.E. London Gazette 7/12/1945. For ‘distinguished service during the war in Europe’. 

Commodore William Edward Blackwood Magee C.B.E., D.S.O. was born on 9/7/1886 in Simla, India, his father being Colonel Augustus Helier Magee (K.O.S.B.). He entered the Royal Navy as a cadet on 15/1/1903, a man of ability he was steadily promoted to Lieutenant 1908, Lt Commander 1/10/1916, Captain in 1929 retiring to shore 1933. Recalled for WW2 he served as a Commodore. He served on a variety of H.M. ships and shore bases (with glowing report) and during WW1 he was in command of the T.B 109 (Torpedo boat) 18/3/1914 – 27/6/1915. H.M.S. Cossack (Destroyer) Dover Patrol from 28/6/1915 – 7/12/1915. H.M.S. Leonidas (Destroyer) 8/12/1915 – 3/5/1917. H.M.S. Thisby (destroyer) 7/5/1917 – 19/3//1919 as part of Harwich Force. War in the Baltic and Russian Civil War. H.M.S. Watchman (Destroyer) as Captain from 4/1919 – 23/7/1921. He was awarded a D.S.O. for ‘Distinguished service in command of H.M.S. Watchman’. London Gazette 8/3/1920. He retired from the Navy in 1933 due to his services being no longer required. WW2 service. Recalled for service with the rank of Commodore he served at H.M.S. Eaglet conducting convoy duties from April 1941. Transferred to Bombay on 18/12/1944 for convoy duties. On 19/5/1945 he returned to England for discharge and died on 3/4/1981. He was awarded the C.B.E for ‘Distinguished service during the war in Europe. London Gazette 7/12/1945. He was also awarded four M.I.D.’s London Gazette 26/6/1917., 16/3/1918., 20/2/1919 and 23/6/1944. The Italian ‘Bronze Medal for Military Valour (Presented by the King) London Gazette 16/3/1918. As well as WW1 and WW2 service medals. Providence: Sold by Romsey Medals 1991 to an Australian collector (now deceased) and recently obtained from the family.