Auction Catalogue

25 March 2015

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria to include a Fine Collection of Napoleonic Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Download Images

Lot

№ 855

.

25 March 2015

Estimate: £2,200–£2,500

A rare Naval M.S.M. group of three awarded to Warrant Officer (Sea) R. F. Hopkins, Royal Navy, who served aboard the Type 21 Frigate H.M.S. Avenger during the Falklands War: commanded by Captain H. M. White, C.O. of the 4th Frigate Squadron - whose losses included the Antelope and Ardent - Avenger herself came under land-based Exocet and air attack, in addition to laying down one of the heaviest bombardments by a single frigate in the entire war

South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (C.P.O. (Sea) R. F. Hopkins, D077962D, H.M.S. Avenger); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (C.P.O. R. F. Hopkins, D077962D, H.M.S. Thunderer); Royal Navy Meritorious Service Medal, E.II.R. (W.O. (Sea) R. F. Hopkins, D077962A, R.N.), the first two mounted as worn and the last in its named card box of issue, the first with officially corrected rate, generally good very fine and the M.S.M. virtually as issued (3) £2200-2500

H.M.S. Avenger joined the Task Force on 25 May 1982, in readiness for bombardment duties. On the night of 27th-28th, when between firing runs and to the south of Harriet Cove, a large projectile hurtled noisily across the Avenger’s flight deck at a height of about five feet - the frigate was well out of range of shore artillery and surface to air missiles, Captain White concluding that his ship had been targeted by a shore-based Exocet. Having then fired 125 rounds of 4.5-inch shells on enemy observation posts on Mount Brisbane and McBride Head - to cover the insertion of an S.B.S. patrol - she again came under fire from a combined Super Etendard-Exocet and Skyhawk bomber attack, but emerged unscathed. On 30 May, she was credited with shooting down one A-4C Skyhawk, and on 2 June fired 273 rounds of H.E. and 20 star-shell rounds on Argentine positions on Pebble Island, prior to the Royal Marine Commandos carrying out a landing. Having then conducted a bombardment of Sea Lion Island during her return to San Carlos Water, Avenger accepted the surrender of Argentine forces at Fox Bay on 23 June.