Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Able Seaman W. L. Dunthorne, Royal Navy

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, extremely fine, together with original Admiralty condolence slip in the name of ‘Walter Leslie Dunthorne’ (4) £60-80

Walter Leslie Dunthorne was killed in action on 5 April 1942, when the cruiser H.M.S. Cornwall was sunk by Japanese aircraft. As part of the Eastern Fleet, the Cornwall was steaming off the south coast of Ceylon when at 1.30 p.m. she was attacked down sun by 50 enemy dive bombers. Bereft of any air cover, she was repeatedly hit and heeled over and went down in a matter of minutes, taking with her nearly 200 men; H.M.S. Dorsetshire was lost in the same action.

Sold with accompanying research and two copy photographs of the Cornwall, the former detailing that ship’s distinguished operational record from the commencement of hostilities until her loss in April 1942, including the destruction of the notorious German raider the Pinguin in May 1941.