Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Leading Seaman John Joseph Phelan, Royal Navy, killed in action, serving on H.M.S. Gloucester, 11 January 1941

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, these unnamed; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (J.106536 A/L.S., H.M.S. Gloucester); Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (unsuccessful) (John J. Phelan, Royal Navy, 19th Oct. 1931) mounted for display; together with a ‘H.M.S. Resolution’ Prize Medal, 32mm., bronze, reverse inscribed, ‘Boy J. Phelan 2nd B.S. Boxing 1925’, good very fine and better (6) £240-280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine Collection of Life Saving Awards.

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John Joseph Phelan was born a Roman Catholic in Plymouth, Devon on 29 May 1907. An Errand Boy by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 21 November 1922, being advanced to Boy 1st Class in September 1923. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in May 1925 when on H.M.S. Resolution and Able Seaman in November 1925 when on H.M.S. Watchman.

On 19 October 1931, Phelan was serving as an Able Seaman aboard H.M.S. Vidette in the Firth of Forth. On that day Able Seaman Bertie G. Emery fell overboard whilst hoisting out the target for gunnery practice. Wind 25 mph, sea choppy. Sub Lieutenant Alistair G. G. Tulloch (23) swam with a line 40 yards windward of the man who sank. Phelan swam to the man and tried to tow him to a lifebuoy but had to let go. Both Tulloch and Phelan were awarded the R.H.S. Medal in Bronze (Unsuccessful) (R.H.S. Case no. 51,052).

Phelan served on the cruiser H.M.S. Gloucester from January 1939; being advanced to Acting Leading Seaman in October 1939 and confirmed in that rank in October 1940. He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. with gratuity on 27 September 1940.

On 11 January 1941, the Gloucester in company with Southampton, taking part in Operation Excess - supporting convoys between Malta and Greece, came under attack from Stuka dive-bombers. The Gloucester was hit by a bomb which resulted, according to the ship’s log, in ‘one officer, S. Lt. Burford, R.N.V.R., 7 Marines, 1 Torpedoman killed, 14 wounded’. Amongst the dead was Leading Seaman Phelan. H.M.S. Southampton was badly damaged in the attack, suffering 22 officers and 59 ratings killed, and later had to be scuttled.

With original Certificate of Service; extract from the Gloucester’s log for 11 January 1941, and extracts from R.H.S. records.