Orders, Decorations and Medals

Family group:

A Second World War D.S.C. group of five attributed to Acting Sub-Lieutenant Arthur Derek Maher, No. 815 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm

Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1942’ and inscribed, ‘Sub/Lt. A. D. Maher, R.N.’, hallmarks for London 1942; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, these unnamed, mounted as worn; together with a lapel badge

Five: attributed to Sub-Lieutenant G. P. Maher, Fleet Air Arm

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed, mounted as worn, generally extremely fine (11) £1500-1800

D.S.C. London Gazette 28 April 1942. ‘Acting Sub-Lieutenant (A), Royal Navy’.

815 Squadron Operational Report - Period 14th - 31st December 1941. Recommendation states, ‘This Officer has carried out 17 (seventeen) raids during the last two and half months. By his devotion to duty and keenness he has been of great assistance to his Pilot and has turned many a potentially dubious operation into a success’.

Arthur Derek Maher was born on 9 March 1921 and joined the Fleet Air Arm as a Midshipman in January 1939. He served with No. 821 Squadron flying from H.M.S. Hermes, February 1940-January 1941 - aircraft from the Hermes taking part in the unsuccessful attack on the German battle cruiser Scharnhorst on 21 June 1940. Acting Sub-Lieutenant Arthur Derek Maher, R.N., was based at H.M.S. Grebe (Dekheila, near Alexandria, Egypt) and was serving with No. 815 Squadron as an Observer when he won the D.S.C. for his service in operations in the Mediterranean theatre of war. He was killed in action/died on 24 January 1942, aged 20 years when his aircraft went missing, en route from Benghazi to Malta. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Lee-on-Solent Memorial. He was the son of Alexander Charles and Doris Marguerita Maher of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire; he was the brother of G. P. Maher.

Group to Arthur Derek Maher sold with a fine portrait miniature in oils on ivory of the recipient in uniform, signed ‘Dora Webb R.M.S. 1946’, contained within a gilt oval frame, 105 x 80mm., this set within a wooden frame, 163 x 130mm. Also with a photograph of the recipient and copied research. Group to G. P. Maher with a photograph of the recipient and copied notes on his wartime service.