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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 565

(x) Four: Sergeant P. A. C. Wilson, Royal Engineers, late Merchant Navy who as a member of 969 Port Floating Equipment Company would most likely have been involved in the building of the Mulberry Harbours at Normandy

1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, unnamed as issued, in box of issue addressed to 'Mr P.A.C. Wilson, 106 Berwick Road, Custom House, London E16', together with medal issue slip, very fine (4)

Patrick Alfred Charles Wilson was born on 4 August 1907 at Plaistow, London. A Merchant Navy seaman he enlisted as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers on 27 October 1942 serving in the 982 Dredging Company and 969 Port Floating Equipment Company. Both were actively involved in the D Day landings.

969 Port Floating Equipment Company - Mulberry harbour, Normandy

Two Mulberry harbours were built for D-Day. Mulberry A was constructed off Omaha Beach to supply US forces. Mulberry B was built off Gold Beach at Arromanches to supply British and Canadian troops. Mulberry A was destroyed in a storm a few days after it was built, whilst Mulberry B was operational for 10 months after the landings.

The harbours were used to protect supply ships anchored off the coast of Normandy, north west France, after the D-Day landings of June 6, 1944. Supply ships needed to sit in deep water and so couldn't come in close to the shore. The harbours were intended to protect the ships from storms and enemy attack. The idea for floating harbours came from several people. Winston Churchill had suggested them as early as 1917.

Captain G. Tarling writing in the 969 Port Floating Equipment Company war diary records that they landed on D+1 Day (7th June) at King's Beach (La Riviere) in a very understated fashion, the terrible weather. Detail is given of the extremely violent seas and the utmost danger faced by the incredibly committed teams of Officers and Men. Wilson as a member of 969 would most likely have been involved in the successful construction of the mulberry harbours.

Wilson was discharged on 17 August 1944 and died at Bury St Edmunds on 11 July 1975; sold together with copied research and service records, letter from the General Register and Shipping office confirming the medals and Atlantic clasp, not with the group.

Further reading about the construction of the mulberry harbour and 969 Port Floating Equipment Company can be found in the book, 'A Harbour Goes to War' by J. Evans, E. Palmer and R. Walter.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate

Starting price
£70