Auction Catalogue

17 & 18 May 2016

Starting at 11:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Live Online Auction

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Lot

№ 534 x

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17 May 2016

Hammer Price:
£240

Five: Petty Officer A. A. Meech, Royal Navy, killed in action when the battleship H.M.S. Barham was torpedoed and sunk, 25 November 1941

193
9-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, these unnamed; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (J.96264 P.O., H.M.S. St. Vincent) mounted for wear, slight edge bruising, good very fine (5) £ 140-180

Aldred Allen Meech was born in Peckham, London on 7 August 1904. He enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in November 1919 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in August 1920. Promoted to Ordinary Seaman in August 1922 and to Able Seaman in December 1923. Appointed to Acting Leading Seaman in June 1932 when on the battleship H.M.S. Warspite and was confirmed in that rank in June 1933 when on the cruiser H.M.S. Hawkins. He attained the rank of Petty Officer in July 1937 when based at Victory I. During the early years of the war he served on the cruiser H.M.S. Berwick. Served on the battleship H.M.S. Barham from 29 November 1940. Saw action on the ship at the battle of Cape Matapan, 27-29 March 1941 and was engaged in the battle for Crete. Petty Officer Meech was killed in action when H.M.S. Barham was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-331 in the Eastern Mediterranean on 25 November 1941. Hit by three torpedoes she capsized onto her port side and shortly afterwards a magazine exploded, destroying the ship. Due to the catastrophic speed at which she sank, 862 officers and men were lost.

With copied service papers and other research - includes two copied photographs of H.M.S.
Barham, sinking and exploding.