Baldwin & Sons
Auction 101 28 September 2016
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ORDERS, DECORATIONS AND MILITARY MEDALS, Campaign Groups and Pairs, An Intriguing World War Two MBE and TD Group of 6 awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Frederick John Dean MBE, TD, Devonshire and Cornwall Fortress Engineers, RE, late Royal Air Force, late RNAS, believed to have assisted in the preparation of the extensive coastal fortifications used to train the British and US troops prior to D-Day, comprising The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, MBE (Military) Member's breast badge, in silver, with original Royal Mint case of issue, British War and Victory Medals, 1914-1920, the latter with MID bronze spray of oak leaves (Capt. F. J. Dean., R.A.F.), Efficiency Decoration, GRI, Territorial clasp, reverse dated 1938, in original Royal Mint box of issue; Defence and War Medals, 1939-1945, in OHMS box of issue; BWM & VM officially impressed, remainder unnamed as issue, group loose. Generally extremely fine, toned. (6)
Frederick John Dean was born 3 January 1895 at Plymouth. A civil engineer by profession, he was commissioned as a Sub Lt 7 July 1915, RNVR. He transferred to the RNAS 25 June 1916 and appears to have served largely as an Intelligence Office and Observer. He spent 70 hours patrol flying in RNAS seaplanes, and later in WWI spent 100 active service hours flying in the Dardanelles over a twelve month period from December 1915, based aboard HMS Europa. He had been recommended for promotion to the rank of Captain (Temporary) in early 1918, but appears to have transferred to the RAF late on in the war, and was mentioned in despatches 3 June 1919. He later joined the Devonshire and Cornwall Fortress Engineers, Royal Engineers during WW2, and it appears that he was involved in this role in the weeks preceding the vast amphibious assaults of D-Day, as his unit is believed to have assisted in the preparation of landing areas and training fortifications for use by the very same Allied forces. The sand dunes of Woolacombe, on the north coast, were fortified with mock German defences and Dartmoor was used, as it is today as a training area. A large area of the South Hams, lying just west of Dartmouth, was evacuated and used as a live fire area due to its similarity to Normandy. Such preparation was essential to the success of the operation itself.
He was awarded the TD in 1938, and the MBE in 1939, whilst with this latter unit. His mother, Emily Dean [nee Coles], who was residing at Ford Park Road, Plymouth was killed during an air raid 21 March 1941 aged 69. His father Frederick John Dean died 7 April 1929, and Lieutenant Colonel Dean died in 1976. Sold with original bestowal document for the MBE in its original envelope, original framed MID certificate for WW1, WW2 Period Photo in Uniform, portrait photo in uniform, original photo in the cockpit of an interwar period aircraft, photograph from his flying licence, and a quantity of related research.
Estimate: £600-800
Frederick John Dean was born 3 January 1895 at Plymouth. A civil engineer by profession, he was commissioned as a Sub Lt 7 July 1915, RNVR. He transferred to the RNAS 25 June 1916 and appears to have served largely as an Intelligence Office and Observer. He spent 70 hours patrol flying in RNAS seaplanes, and later in WWI spent 100 active service hours flying in the Dardanelles over a twelve month period from December 1915, based aboard HMS Europa. He had been recommended for promotion to the rank of Captain (Temporary) in early 1918, but appears to have transferred to the RAF late on in the war, and was mentioned in despatches 3 June 1919. He later joined the Devonshire and Cornwall Fortress Engineers, Royal Engineers during WW2, and it appears that he was involved in this role in the weeks preceding the vast amphibious assaults of D-Day, as his unit is believed to have assisted in the preparation of landing areas and training fortifications for use by the very same Allied forces. The sand dunes of Woolacombe, on the north coast, were fortified with mock German defences and Dartmoor was used, as it is today as a training area. A large area of the South Hams, lying just west of Dartmouth, was evacuated and used as a live fire area due to its similarity to Normandy. Such preparation was essential to the success of the operation itself.
He was awarded the TD in 1938, and the MBE in 1939, whilst with this latter unit. His mother, Emily Dean [nee Coles], who was residing at Ford Park Road, Plymouth was killed during an air raid 21 March 1941 aged 69. His father Frederick John Dean died 7 April 1929, and Lieutenant Colonel Dean died in 1976. Sold with original bestowal document for the MBE in its original envelope, original framed MID certificate for WW1, WW2 Period Photo in Uniform, portrait photo in uniform, original photo in the cockpit of an interwar period aircraft, photograph from his flying licence, and a quantity of related research.
Estimate: £600-800