Three: Supply Assistant H. G. D. Thomas, Royal Navy, who was killed in action when H.M.S. Anking, on convoy duty in the Indian Ocean, was intercepted by a force of five Japanese cruisers and sank 200 miles east of Christmas Island, 4 March 1942

1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Admiralty enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. G. A. A. Morgans, Llysydolan, Drysgol Road, Radyr, Glam.’, extremely fine (3) £120-160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Casualties.

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Herbert George Drew Thomas served during the Second World War as a Supply Assistant in the Depot ship H.M.S. Anking, that was acting on Admiralty service on convoy duty in the Indian Ocean. On 27 February 1942 she left Batavia bound for Fremantle, Western Australia, as part of a convoy escorted by the Australian sloop Yarra. At 6:30 a.m. on 4 March, whilst 200 miles east of Christmas Island, the convoy was intercepted by five Japanese cruisers. After engaging and sinking the Yarra, the enemy then engaged Anking, and quickly sank her too. Despite scattering, the entire convoy was sunk. From the entire convoy, sixteen survivors were picked up four days later.

Thomas was amongst those killed, aged 29. He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. His medals were sent to his widow Gwendoline Audrey A. Thomas, who had subsequently remarried.