Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore

A fine Second War ‘Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships’ B.E.M. group of four awarded to Gunner V. G. Gurney, Maritime Royal Artillery, for his fortitude and gallant conduct in a lifeboat in February 1942

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Gnr. Victor G. Gurney 5572890 M.R.A.) edge prepared prior to naming, with flattened card box of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted for wear, extremely fine (4) £1,000-£1,400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore.

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Spink, July 1996.

B.E.M. London Gazette 6 July 1943:
‘For fortitude and gallant conduct in a lifeboat, though he was severely wounded, after a defensively equipped Merchantman was lost.’

The original Recommendation, from the Honours and Awards Committee of 19 May 1943 (ADM 1/14354) states: ‘Gunner Gurney was attached to the SS Kongsgaard, which was torpedoed and sunk in February 1943 [sic]. He showed fortitude and endurance while in a life-boat after the ship had been abandoned. Although badly hurt in his back, arms, hands, legs and feet and burned by spraying oil, he pulled an oar with his raw hands until his boat reached safety. He then collapsed. His conduct was an inspiration to all who saw it.’

Victor George Gurney was born in Streatham, London in October 1917, the son of a Licensed Victualler. An Apprentice Compositor aged 22 he enlisted into the Territorial Army for the duration of the Emergency on 15 February 1940 and was posted to the Infantry Training Centre, Wiltshire Regiment. On completion of his training he was classified as Regimental Signaller at Devizes in August 1940 and posted to A.A. Defence of Merchant Shipping in November 1940. Transferred to the Royal Artillery and posted to 3rd Maritime A.A. Regiment on 6 May 1941, he served on several merchant vessels as shown on his DEMS Record Card (WO 436/14 copy included) before embarking on M.V. Kongsgaard, a Norwegian Motor Tanker, on 9 January 1942.

The M.V. Kongsgaard was on passage from Puerto La Cruz to Aruba with 15601 tons of crude oil when she was attacked 7 miles west of North Point, Curacao on 21 February 1942 at 15.32 hours by U-67 (Gűnther Műller- Stöckhelm) with two torpedoes striking the port side. The cargo of oil caught fire sending flames high above the entire afterpart and after a further attack by U-67 the tanker sank. The Master (Leif Moen) and 7 survivors got away in the starboard lifeboat and were rescued by a fishing vessel and taken to Curaçao; a ninth survivor was also picked up; however, 37 men lost their lives. Gunner Gurney was admitted to hospital in Curaçao severely wounded with multiple burns following the torpedoing and sinking of SS Kongsgaard. Whilst still recovering from his wounds he was discharged from hospital on 4 May 1942 and returned home disembarking at Liverpool on 6 July. He was granted furlough in October 1942 before being discharged ‘Permanently unfit for any form of military service’ on 25 November 1942 ‘due to 60% burns multiple’.

Returning to the printing trade as a Linotype Operator, despite the serious injuries he sustained during the Second World War he survived to see old age and died at Hornchurch on 15 October 1998, aged 81.

Sold with Army Council enclosure for the campaign awards; R.A. Record Office letter regarding the award of the B.E.M.; and copied research.