Auction Catalogue

17 September 1999

Starting at 12:00 PM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Regus Conference Centre  12 St James Square  London  SW1Y 4RB

Lot

№ 939

.

17 September 1999

Estimate: £80–£100

Four: Able Seaman B. R. Boughton, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Electra

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals;
together with named condolence slip, this with some later biro marks, and card box of issue, address label removed, extremely fine (4) £80-100

Able Seaman Baden Robert Boughton was killed in action on 27 February 1942 when H.M.S. Electra was sunk on 27 February 1942.

The destroyer
Electra formed part of an Allied force of five cruisers and four destroyers under Rear-Admiral K. Doorman of the Royal Netherlands Navy engaged in resisting a Japanese landing on the island of Java. The first phase of the battle took place on the afternoon of 27 February 1942, between the Allies and two Japanese 10,000 ton cruisers, several light cruisers and about a dozen destroyers. The allies suffered heavily, losing two Dutch cruisers and a destroyer, and two British destroyers. In the second phase, which took place on the next night, one British, one Australian and one American cruiser were lost, as well as a British, an American and a Dutch destroyer, thus the entire force was overwhelmed.

The
Electra was lost on the first afternoon in a hot engagement with three Japanese destroyers of superior weight and armament. Of her compliment of about 145 there were 54 survivors, these being picked up on the following day by an American submarine which transferred them to a Dutch minesweeper.