A Good Second World War Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Air-Sea Rescue M.B.E. Medal Group of

A Good Second World War Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Air-Sea Rescue M.B.E. Medal Group of Eight Covering Service in Both World Wars, Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) 2nd type breast badge, in its Royal Mint case of issue, British War medal (LIEUT. R. BEARD, R.N.R.), Mercantile Marine War medal (Richard Beard), Victory medal (LIEUT. R. BEARD, R.N.R.), 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Defence and War medal 1939-45, the last 7 medals mounted as worn. Also with a number of Masonic badges (some named). Lot also includes the recipients original MBE warrant and a bound typescript copy of his memoir, A Master Mariner’s Log, along with a copy of the published version and a named R.N.A.S. pass for No1 Wing, St Pol airfield Dunkirk dated 12th December 1915.M.B.E., London Gazette 13th June 1946 – Acting Squadron Leader Richard BEARD (82849) - The recommendation for this award states ‘By his unremitting devotion to duty, from 1941 to 1945, both in the Air Ministry and outside, Squadron Leader Beard has ensured that the Air-Sea Rescue organisation, both at home and overseas, was made as perfect as possible. His long experience as a Master Mariner has been of great value. He has given encouragement and guidance in dealing with new problems arising in connection with the organisation. Squadron Leader Beard’s foresight and care have undoubtably contributed to the results achieved by Air Sea Rescue services.’Richard Beard was born on 16th September 1889 in Great Dunmow, Essex. As a teenager he was apprenticed to the Hain Shipping Company of Cornwall. He was a Mate by the start of the Great War serving on merchant vessel and in August 1916 he transferred to the Royal Naval Reserve as a Temporary Sub. Lieutenant. He served as a Transport Officer in Salonica between October 1916 and December 1917 after which he transferred to the Cruiser HMS Brilliant followed by other seagoing appointments. Immediately post war, he served on the aircraft carrier Ark Royal in the Black Sea with his final posting being Navigating Officer on the Empress being involved in the evacuation of refugees from South Russia. Between the wars he was the landlord to a number of hotels in Aylsham, Norfolk. On the outbreak of the Second World War, he volunteered for the R.A.F.V.R being commissioned as Pilot Officer in July 1940. Due to his navigational expertise he was posted to the seaplane base at Calshot as a Marine Craft Officer. He worked on a number of projects including working on high speed launches, he assisted in the recovery of a downed Me. 109 of the Needles during the battle of Britain. He ended the war at the Directorate of Air Sea Rescue where he advised on navigation matters including a clandestine raid on one of the Channel Islands. He was demobilised in December 1945 with the rank of Squadron Leader. Richard Beard died in September 1967 at Aylsham.