British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (K.55519 A. T. Butler, S.P.O., H.M.S. Enterprise) good very fine £100-140

Chief Stoker Albert Thomas Butler, Royal Navy, was killed on 2 October 1942, aged 41 years, when the cruiser Curacoa was in collision with the liner Queen Mary.

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.