Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: attributed to W. K. Foulkes, Royal Navy

1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals, all unnamed, nearly extremely fine (lot) £160-200

With two W.W.2 medal card forwarding boxes, each with a forwarding slip (one for 3 medals, the other for 1); the boxes addressed to Mr W. K. Foulkes, of 34 Northway Rd., Camberwell, London, SE5.; ‘H.M.S. Duke of York’ Calendar for 1946, back inscribed, ‘.... from Bill’; and the recipient’s Pacific issue naval shirt bearing his name.

Also with a photograph album, ‘Bills Photosnaps of 2nd War’, containing some 40+ photographs, mostly original, some with captions, taken while a Rating on board the battleship, H.M.S. Duke of York, 1945-46. It includes photographs of Foulkes, scenes of the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay; the Japanese surrender at Hong Kong; crossing the equator; at Sydney Harbour before leaving for England, May 1946; scenes on board ship, the full ship’s compliment; scenes from Japan and Australian wildlife. A fascinating archive.

In company with her sister ship, H.M.S. Anson, H.M.S. Duke of York sailed from home waters in April 1945 to join the British Pacific Fleet. A problem with the ship’s electrical system delayed her at Malta, with the result that she did not reach Sydney until 29 July 1945. In August the Duke of York was assigned to Task Force 37 and the protection of its carriers. After the cessation of hostilities the Duke of York and her sister ship, King George V, participated in the Japanese surrender ceremonies that took place in Tokyo Bay. The following month, with other ships, she was at Hong Kong to accept the Japanese surrender there. She remained as flagship of the Pacific Fleet until June 1946 when she she returned home from Australia.