Medals from the Collection of the Late Eric Smith (Part II)

Six: Petty Officer S. A. Sheldon, Royal Navy, a submariner who may have participated in Operation “Struggle”, the attack on the Japanese cruiser Takao which resulted in the award of two V.Cs

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; Burma Star, clasp, Pacific; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (JX. 129959 S. A. Sheldon, P.O., H.M.S. Stygian), this last with occasional edge bruising, generally good very fine (6) £80-100

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of the late Eric Smith.

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The submarine H.M.S. Stygian was commissioned in February 1944 and assigned to the Eastern Fleet in the Pacific, under Lieutenant G. S. C. Clarabut, R.N, where she carried out a number of eventful patrols from August of the same year until August 1945. Among other successes, she sunk eight Japanese sailing vessels, five coasters and the merchantman Nichinian Maru, in addition to the Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Wa 104.

But of all of her operations, the most memorable was probably the occasion on which she acted as tow for the midget submarine XE-3 during her attack on the Japanese cruiser Takao - an attack resulting in the award of V.Cs to Lieutenant Ian Fraser and Leading Seaman J. J. Magennis. For her own part, Stygian’s crew were rewarded with three D.S.Cs, six D.S.Ms and several “mentions”.