A Sunderland & Gorleston interest Mariner's World Wars O.B.E. & campaign group of 8: Chief Engineer Robert James  Shand, late M.V. 'Ocean Vanity' Mercantile Marine

- Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) 2nd Type Gilt badge, in Royal Mint case of issue
- British War Medal. Silver issue (Robert J. Shand.)
- Mercantile Marine War Medal (Robert J. Shand.)
- The 1939-45 Star. No clasp
- The Atlantic Star. No clasp
- The Pacific Star. No clasp
- The Italy Star
- War Medal 1939-45

Sold together with:

- Leatherette plush hinged case of issue for the O.B.E.. This with gilt tolled O.B.E. letters on the lid
- Flattened boxes of issue for Great War awards with O.H.M.S. addressed transmittal envelope

O.B.E. retains it's original silk riband and gilt mounting bar, with hinged pin and clasp as issued. The gilding on insignia worn & reverse of riband cut

O.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 11 June 1942 - and the only award made to a member of the crew of the M.V. 'Ocean Vanity' during the Second World War. At the time of his award the recipient was the Chief Engineer of the 'Ocean Vanity'

M.V. 'Ocean Vanity': The M.V. Ocean Vanity was a British merchant cargo ship built as part of the UK Government's 'Ocean' class during the Second World War. Completed in April 1942, she was constructed by the Permanente Metals Corporation at their shipyard in Richmond, California, on behalf of the Federal 'War Shipping Administration'

The Ocean ships were a class of 60 x cargo ships built in the United States by Todd Shipyards Corporation during the Second World War for the British Ministry of War Transport under contracts let by the British Purchasing Commission. Eighteen were lost to enemy action and eight to accidents; survivors were sold postwar into merchant service. To expedite production, the type was based on an existing design, later adapted to become the 'Liberty-Ship'. Yards constructed to build the Oceans went immediately into production of Liberty hulls. Before and during construction the ships are occasionally mentioned as 'British Victory'or victory ships as distinct from the United States variant known as the Liberty ship

Medals Verification: All 8 x awards confirmed as entitled per respective medal rolls and authorities cited below;

- The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E.: London Gazette issue 11 June 1942
- British War Medal. Silver issue: Ref National Archives file series BT 351/1/126981
- Mercantile Marine War Medal: Ref National Archives file series BT 351/1/126981
- The 1939-45 Star. No clasp: Ref Medal Roll per National Archives file series BT 395/1/87567 
- The Atlantic Star. No clasp: Ref Medal Roll per National Archives file series BT 395/1/87567
- The Pacific Star. No clasp: Ref Medal Roll per National Archives file series BT 395/1/87567
- The Italy Star: Ref Medal Roll per National Archives file series BT 395/1/87567
- War Medal 1939-45: Ref Medal Roll per National Archives file series BT 395/1/87567

Robert James Shand son of Robert Shand (who in 1891 was a 'Fire Insurance Inspector') & Anne Elizabeth Shand (nee Grapes )was a native of Sunderland, England, where he was born on 16 February 1884. A career mariner, he served with the British Merchant Fleets in both World Wars, latterly as Chief Engineer for which services he was decorated with an O.B.E.. On 17 November 1926, he married Elsie Jane Marshall at Great Yarmouth. Norfolk, England. Robert's death sometime during the first quarter of 1952, was registered at Yarmouth, Norfolk, England

Condition: Mostly about EF

Code: 26116