Auction Catalogue

25 & 26 June 2014

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Download Images

Lot

№ 1125

.

26 June 2014

Hammer Price:
£1,100

A Merchant Navy ‘Russian Convoy’ M.B.E. and ‘SS Ohio Malta Convoy’ D.S.C. group of seven attributed to Junior Engineer Henry Sless

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1942’, hallmarked London 1948, and additionally inscribed in an apparently official style ‘Jnr. Engr. Henry Sless S.S. Ohio, Malta Convoy’; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; War Medal, very fine (7) £600-800

M.B.E. London Gazette 20 July 1943: For services when M.V. San Cipriano was bombed and damaged in the Kola Inlet on 10 January 1943. The citation states: ‘The Third Engineer Officer and the Junior Engineer Officer showed courage and devotion to duty in the face of great danger. Mr Sless remained at his post in the engine-room while the ship was undergoing heavy attack. When the vessel was hit and the magazine was on fire, Mr Bland ran down to the engine-room to assist Mr Sless in speeding up the fire pumps and in shutting off steam from burst pipes.’

D.S.C.
London Gazette 22 December 1942: ‘Operation Pedestal’. Presented at an investiture held on 23 March 1943. The hallmarks on the D.S.C. offered here indicate that it must be an official replacement.

Henry Sless was Seventh Engineer on board the British tanker S.S.
Ohio during Operation Pedestal, a convoy from Gibraltar to Malta in August 1942. The convoy of fourteen merchantmen, including two American ships and the tanker Ohio, were called convoy WS21S and carried much needed supplies, including vital fuel supplies. The convoy came under constant heavy attacks and many vessels were badly damaged or sunk. The Ohio, disabled and badly damaged, was finally towed into the Grand Harbour at Malta with several other ships. Ohio’s Master Captain D. W. Mason was awarded the George Cross and fifteen members of the crew received decorations. Admiral of the Fleet Sir Philip Vian remarked “Ohio, famous, fabulous, never to be forgotten”.

Sold with research notes and photocopied portrait photograph of Sless.