Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare South Atlantic, Gulf pair awarded to MEM (M)l A. J. Bartram, Royal Navy

SOUTH ATLANTIC MEDAL 1982, with Rosette (MEM (M)l, D155426U, H.M.S. Broadsword) in card box of issue (damaged); CAMPAIGN SERVICE 1962, 1 clasp, Gulf (MEM (M)l, R.N.) in card box of issue, together with copy Certificate of Qualifications which gives service details and confirms both medals, extremely fine (2)

Alan James Bartram joined the Royal Navy in November 1975 as a Junior Mechanic and after basic training joined his first ship in 1976. He served in the South Atlantic aboard H.M.S. Broadswordas Marine Engineering Mechanic (Mechanical) 1st Class. H.M.S. Broadsword was in company with H.M.S. Coventry when both ships came under enemy air attack and both were hit. One bomb, which passed through Broadsword's side and out through the Flight Deck, demolishing a helicopter on the way, fortunately failed to explode. H.M.S. Coventry was less fortunate and capsized within 15 minutes. Captain W. R. Canning, Commanding H.M.S. Broadsword, was awarded the D.S.O., his lengthy citation ending as follows: 'H.M.S. Broadswordsaw more enemy action than most and her outstanding contribution to the success of the Falkland Islands Operation owed much to Captain Canning's brave and inspiring leadership under the most testing conditions.' Bartram was awarded the Gulf clasp for service aboard H.M.S. Brazen. He was discharged from the Royal Navy on 3 April, 1991.