British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War B.E.M. group of five awarded to Electrical Artificer 3rd Class Bertram J. Humphrey, Royal Navy

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Elec. Art. 3rd Cl. Bertram J. Humphrey, P/MX 78684 R.N) mounted as worn; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed, mounted as worn, very fine and better (5) £300-350

B.E.M. London Gazette 26 June 1945. ‘For bravery, determination and great devotion to duty, whilst serving in H.M.S. Affleck, when an explosion caused the whole of the ship to be penetrated by chlorsulphonic acid fumes. In spite of the appalling conditions the ship was brought back to safety’.

The frigate H.M.S. Affleck, ex U.S.N. Buckley, was torpedoed and badly damaged by the German submarine U-486, off Cherbourg, on 27 December 1944. Two M.B.E’s. and three B.E.M’s. were awarded for this action. Probably as a result of the inhalation of toxic fumes, Bertram John Humphrey died on 6 December 1946, aged 25 years. He was buried in Bells Hill Burial Ground, Hertfordshire. He was the son of Bertie John and Eleanor Humphrey and husband of Eliza Jane Hollywood Humphrey, of Belfast, Northern Ireland. With some copied research.