Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Driver Stephen Armstrong, Royal Engineers, who received the Commander in Chiefs Commendation for Distinguished Conduct in Action in Northern Palestine, and who was killed in action during the Evacuation from Dunkirk, 1 June 1940

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (4451445 Dvr., R.E.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, these unnamed, extremely fine (3) £300-350

4451445 Driver Stephen Armstrong, 17 Field Company, Royal Engineers, was killed in action on 1 June 1940, aged 22 years. His name is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial. Most of the Company under Major G. Thomas were aboard the fleet minesweeper Skipjack when she was attacked and sunk by German Stuka dive-bombers. Sinking almost immediately, a number of her crew and most of the 250-300 soldiers she was carrying went down with her.

With commendation certificate to ‘No.4451445Driver S. Armstrong, Royal Engineers’, for ‘distinguished conduct in action in Northern Palestine in June and July 1938’, signed ‘R. H. Haining’, dated 31 August 1938, with envelope; together with Buckingham Palace condolence slip and copied research.