Miniature Medals

A good Second War ‘Italy’ B.E.M. group of seven awarded to Chief Stoker W. E. McFarlane, Royal Navy

British Empire Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Military 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (KX.76763 Ch. Sto., H.M.S. Victory) nearly extremely fine (7) £400-450

B.E.M. London Gazette 11 July 1944. ‘For courage, skill and untiring devotion to duty in fire-fighting, rescue work and salvage operations during and after a heavy air raid on Bari.’(Serving aboard H.M.S. Vienna). The recommendation for this award states: ‘For courage and resource in accompanying a Warrant Officer and one other Engine Room rating on board Lyman Abbott, who was endangered by the burning Barletta alongside her and also by the general conflagration, lighting up, raising steam, and getting pressure on her fire mains in under an hour in spite of the unfamiliar surroundings. As a result the fire in Barletta was extinguished by hoses plied from Lyman Abbott and the latter and her valuable cargo saved to the war effort.’

During this air raid seventeen allied ships were sunk and eight others seriously damaged. Casualties were estimated at 1,000 servicemen and an unknown number of civilians. The cause of the greatest number of deaths was the explosion of the freighter John Harvey. This ship was loaded with 100 tons of mustard gas but it was some days before the doctors realised that some chemical agent was responsible for the deaths of those who should have recovered from shock and immersion in the oily water.

M.I.D. London Gazette 2 December 1941. ‘For bravery and devotion to duty when H.M.S. Grimsby was lost.’ (Sunk as a result of bombing by enemy aircraft off the coast of Tobruk). The recommendation for this award states: ‘When the ship was first hit and fires started in the Wardroom lobby, Chief Stoker McFarlane although severely shaken by the blast of the explosion immediately did his utmost to get a supply of water to the fire. This was of no avail, but the fire was put out by the rising water in the Wardroom flat. McFarlane then at once proceeded to help in the Engine Room and when this was evacuated helped to get men out of the flooded Wardroom flat. Later he was untiring in his work for the wounded to whom he gave great encouragement. He set a fine example of courage and resource in a difficult situation.’