Orders, Decorations and Medals

Family Group to Father and Son, both killed in action
Six: Chief Petty Officer Donald McLeod, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Manistee
1914-15 Star Trio (J.19874 A.B./L.S. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (P.O. H.M.S. Victory) together with named condolence slip, the earlier medals good fine, otherwise extremely fine
Four: Leading Seaman Donald McLeod, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Kelly
1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, together with named condolence slip, extremely fine (10)

C.P.O. Donald McLeod was killed in action on 24 February 1941, aged 42 years, when the steamship Manistee was torpedoed by a German submarine on February 23rd, 1941, and again on the following day about 500 miles south of Iceland. There were no survivors.

Leading Seaman Donald McLeod was killed in action on 23 May 1941, when H.M.S. Kelly (Capt. Lord Louis Mountbatten) was sunk by German dive-bombers off Crete. On the night of May 22nd, 1941, in company with the destroyer Kashmir, Kelly was bombarding German positions on the island of Crete. At daybreak on the 23rd, they destroyed two caiques carrying troops and ammunition. This action brought upon the two destroyers the unwelcome attention of German dive-bombers and from 5.30 a.m. they were repeatedly attacked. The Kashmir was struck amidships by a 1,000lb bomb and sank immediately. The Kelly was hit soon afterwards and sank with great rapidity, taking with her nine officers and 119 ratings. Eight officers, including Capt. Lord Louis Mountbatten, and 120 ratings were picked up by the destroyer Kipling which also saved a number of the crew of Kashmir. The lot is sold with a copy of the book Bless our Ship, Mountbatten nd the Kelly by Richard Hough.