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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 662

The unusual 'Baltic 1919' O.B.E. awarded to Paymaster Captain J. A. B. Robertson, Royal Navy, who was further awarded the Persian Order of the Lion and Sun in 1919

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Officer's (O.B.E.) breast Badge, 1st Type, silver-gilt, hallmarked for London 1919; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (Asst. Payr. J. A. B. Robertson. R.N. H.M.S: Odin.); 1914-15 Star (Payr. J. A. B. Robertson, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Payr. Lt. Cr. J. A. B. Robertson. R.N.), good very fine (5)

O.B.E. London Gazette 27 June 1919.

[Persia Order of the Lion and Sun] Permission to wear from 23 October 1919.

James Anderson Brown Robertson was born at Galashiels, Roxburghshire, Scotland on 30 September 1884, the son of William and Janet Robertson. Joining the Royal Navy on 15 July 1902 he passed for Clerk the next year and was posted to Centurion on 3 November 1903 as Clerk Sub Lieutenant.

Appointed Assistant Paymaster on Lieutenant 12 June 1905 with H.M.S. Hogue Robertson was further advanced Lieutenant on 30 September 1905. He saw service between the wars with a number of vessels including Hecla in 1906, Bedford in 1909 and Odin in1912. Joining the company of the scout cruiser Sentinal on 14 August 1914 he saw the first three years of the war with her as part of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla and later the 6th Light Cruiser Squadron.

Joining the crew of Ceres on 27 May 1919 Robertson was advanced Paymaster Lieutenant Commander with her on 30 September 1917. This vessel was part of the 6th Light Cruiser Squadron and later travelled to the Baltic in December 1918 as part of Operation Red Trek. Not long later he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, the Edinburgh Gazette provides the following citation, stating:

'For valuable services in H.M.S. " Ceres," 6th Light Cruiser Squadron.'

Given the timing of the award and the fact that Ceres joined the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron upon her return to Britain, it can be assumed that the award was for his service in the Baltic. While there he was also granted permission to wear the Persian Order of the Lion and Sun although it is not clear how he came by the award. Robertson was later posted to the Battleship Revenge on 4 October 1920 before joining HMS Julies, the shore base of Constantinople. There he was appointed Secretary to the Temporary Naval Transport Officer, being advanced Paymaster Commander on 30 September 1923 while undertaking the role.

Appointed Squadron Account Officer on 1 January 1923 with Warspite he was afterwards posted to Canterbury on 15 May 1924. Robertson's next appointment was as Fleet Accountant Officer with Effingham on 10 February 1925. He remained in the same role with Calcutta from 1 August 1928 and finally retired on 30 September 1934 with the rank of Paymaster Captain.

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Sold for
£400

Starting price
£140