Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Chief Petty Officer (A.) P. G. Roberts, Royal Navy
South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (P.O.A.E.M. (M.) P. G. Roberts, D107168C, 820 Sqdn.); Gulf 1990-911 clasp, 16 Jan to 28 Feb 1991 (C.P.O.A.E.M. (M.) P. G. Roberts, D107168C, R.N.); U.N. Medal, U.N.P.R.O.F.O.R. ribbon; N.A.T.O. Medal, clasp, Former Yugoslavia; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (P.O.A.E.M. (M.) P. G. Roberts, D107168C, R.N.); Saudi Arabia, Liberation of Kuwait; Kuwait, Liberation of Kuwait 1991, in its case of issue, the first five mounted as worn, the second with officially re-impressed naming, generally good very fine or better (7) £1000-1200

Patrick “Robbie” Roberts served as a P.O.A.E.M. in No. 820 Naval Air Squadron during the Falklands War, which unit’s Sea Kings were assigned to H.M.S. Invincible. - H.R.H. Prince Andrew being among the aircrew. During the conflict the Squadron flew over 4700 hours, with Invincible spending 166 days continuously at sea - a world record for continuous carrier operations. For his own part, Roberts served as Watch (Shift) Controller and Technical Supervisor, with responsibility for leadership and discipline of the team, in addition to secondary duties which included weapon training, engineering, and survival, in addition to occasional aircrew duties. Thus, in his own words: ‘The first attempt to fly onto the island via one of the R.F.As failed as the deck was pitching at an incredible angle. When the senior pilot motioned for me to de-plane on to the pitching deck to review the situation, I felt extremely vulnerable. I tried to attach chains from the deck to the aircraft but the clamping devices hadn’t been maintained properly. The poor standard of equipment coupled with the pitching deck and the appalling conditions made the landing dangerous so I briefed the Senior Pilot and we decided to return to the H.M.S. Invincible ... The next night we tried again, this time successfully flying very low right into San Carlos and joined up with the various other units there.’ Roberts adds that it was ‘our aircraft that took Major-General Jeremy Moore to accept the surrender of the Argentine forces.’

Next actively employed in the Gulf War, and by now a Chief Petty Officer, Roberts was attached to No. 845 Naval Air Squadron on the outskirts of Kuwait as “Line Chief”, with responsibilities including all aircraft movements, the condition of the aircraft and liaison with the aircrew, ensuring serviceability of the aircraft was maintained and taking charge of, and control and management of, the engineering teams, in addition to taking the lead in the military issues such as weapon training, fitness and personal development.

Roberts also served as “Watch Chief” in No. 845 Naval Air Squadron in Former Yugoslavia, a protracted period of service in which he completed several tours, the Squadron being charged with casualty evacuation; sold with several copied photographs and brief career summary as cited above.