Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Blacksmith 1st Class S. Garget, Royal Navy, who was killed when H.M.S. Curacoa was in collision with the liner Queen Mary, 2 October 1942

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (MX.45530 Blk.1, H.M.S. Curacoa) in damaged card box ox of issue; Royal Life Saving Society Medal, bronze (S. Garget, June 1931) in case of issue, extremely fine (5) £120-160

Blacksmith 1st Class Sydney Garget, Royal Navy, was killed when the cruiser Curacoa was in collision with the liner Queen Mary on 2 October 1942. Aged 37 years at the time of his death, he was buried in Ashaig Cemetery, Invernesshire. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Garget and husband of Margaret Gertrude Garget of Brighton, Sussex.

The Curacoa was part of the escort of the Queen Mary that was transporting some 15,000 American servicemen across the Atlantic to the U.K. Travelling at high speed in heavy weather, the 80,000 ton liner made a sudden turn to starboard in response to a reported submarine sighting and in doing so cut the escorting 4,290 ton Curacoa in two. Within five minutes the two portions of the vessel sank with the loss of 25 officers and 313 ratings. Only 26 officers and men of the Curacoa survived the accident. The Queen Mary, although damaged, made it across the Atlantic with her human cargo intact.

Sold with Marriage Certificate and Marriage License, Maidestone, Kent, 1929; modern photographs of the grave and copied research.