Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

Pair: Air Mechanic 2nd Class W. C. Chamberlain, Royal Air Force, late Norfolk Regiment

1914-15 Star (12404 Pte., Norf. R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (49629 2.A.M., R.A.F.)

Four: attributed to Able Seaman G. T. Chamberlain, Royal Navy, who was killed in action off Malta, 11 January 1941, when serving on H.M.S. Southampton

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, these unnamed, very fine and better (6) £90-120

Able Seaman Gerald Thomas Chamberlain, R.N. was killed in action on 11 January 1941 when serving on the cruiser H.M.S. Southampton. Remembered with honour on the Chatham Naval Memorial; he was the son of William Lusher and Lily Edith Chamberlain, of Thetford, Norfolk.

On 11 January 1941 the cruisers Southampton and Gloucester came under attack from 12 Stuka dive bombers, S.E. of Malta. Hit by at least two bombs, the Southampton caught fire from stem to stern, trapping a number of men below decks - 81 men being killed. After the survivors had been retrieved; the heavily damaged cruiser was then put out of her misery by torpedoes from Gloucester and Orion.

Medals to Gerald Thomas Chamberlain with named condolence slip and medal card forwarding box addressed to ‘Mrs L. E. Chamberlain, Euston Road, Barnham, Thetford. Norfolk’. Also with postcard photograph of H.M.S. Southampton.