The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 2)

Three: 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal, all unnamed but contained in their card box of issue addressed to the recipient’s Father, Mr W. C. Childs, and sold with original cap tallies for H.M.S. St Vincent and H.M.S. Glowworm, two portrait photographs and several others including a snapshot of the Glowworm in heavy seas in 1939, bronze Royal Life Saving Society Medal (P. Childs July 1934), and two H.M.S. St Vincent swimming medals for 1934 and 1935, good very fine (6)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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Philip Albert Childs, Telegraphist, P/JX 141152 R.N., H.M.S. GLOWWORM, was killed in action on 8 April 1940, aged 22. Son of William Charles and Annie Childs of Sherborne, Dorsetshire. Commemorated on Panel 40, Column 3, Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

The destroyer GLOWWORM, Lieutenant Commander Gerald Roope, R.N., was one of the vessels engaged upon the mining of Norwegian waters to prevent their use by the Germans, more especially to interrupt the iron ore traffic between the port of Narvik and Germany. The operation began on 8 April 1940 and coincided with the German invasion of Norway. Early on the morning of the 8th when escorting the battle cruiser RENOWN, GLOWWORM lost touch owing to one of her crew having fallen overboard. The delay occasioned in picking up the man, together with the heavy seas which reduced the destroyer’s speed to ten knots, allowed a German force consisting of the 10,000 ton cruiser HIPPER and four destroyers to intercept her.

Action was joined at daybreak and GLOWWORM engaged first one and then two enemy destroyers. These vessels failed to score any hits though the British vessel managed to get in at least one before the enemy broke off the action. Shortly afterwards the HIPPER came in sight and began to shell GLOWWORM. Lieutenant Commander Roope decided to make smoke and attack with torpedoes. This attempt failed and the more desperate plan of ramming the cruiser was put into operation and, despite a deluge of shellfire, succeeded in strIking the enemy on the starboard side, though with insufficient force to cause vital damage. By this time GLOWWORM was on fire and a wreck, and at about 10 a.m., Lieutenant Commander Roope gave orders to abandon ship and the destroyer turned on her side and sank.

Unfortunately the strain of the action proved too much for the gallant Commander who took to the water in an exhausted condition. He managed to reach the HIPPER but failed to catch a rope thrown to him and was never seen again. Roope was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. Of the GLOWWORM's complement of eight officers and 144 ratings, seven officers and 105 ratings were killed. Lieutenant Ramsey and 39 ratings were picked up by the Germans and of this number two men died while prisoners of war.