Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: attributed to Able Seaman C. G. Glover, killed in action when serving on H.M.S. Neptune, 19 December 1941

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, all unnamed, mounted for wear, good very fine (4) £120-160

Charles George Glover was born in Weymouth, Dorset on 24 November 1909 and enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 13 May 1926, being advanced to Boy 1st Class in January 1926. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in November 1927 when on H.M.S. Durban and to Able Seaman in May 1929 when at Vivid I. Before the war he served on a number of ships including the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Eagle, May 1929-July 1931 and the battleship H.M.S. Rodney, April 1932-August 1934. On the outbreak of war he was serving on the destroyer H.M.S. Brazen, January 1939-June 1940 and took part in the Norwegian campaign. On 15 April 1940, she and another destroyer sank the German submarine U-49 near Harstad. Able Seaman Glover joined the cruiser H.M.S. Neptune in April 1941.

In May 1941 the ship escorted the Victorious and King George V in the hunt for the Bismarck, she later served extensively in the Mediterranean. She formed part of Force K, a force of cruisers and destroyers used to disrupt Axis supply lines from Italy to North Africa. In the early hours of 19 December 1941, Neptune was the lead ship of a squadron attempting to intercept an Italian convoy when she blundered into a minefield, striking three in quick succession. Two other cruisers, Aurora and Penelope also struck mines. The destroyer Kandahar was despatched to take the Neptune in tow but she too hit a mine. The Neptune then hit a fourth mine and quickly sank. Of her complement of 47 officers and 719 ratings, very few were saved. Able Seaman Glover having no grave is commemorated on the Plymouth Memorial. He was the son of Mr & Mrs George Glover and husband of Mary Glover, of Stonehouse, Plymouth.

With original named commemorative scroll mounted on card; portrait photograph mounted on card, of Able Seaman Glover, wearing an ‘H.M.S. Rodney’ cap tally; original telegram to his wife stating that he was ‘missing’; Admiralty slip dated 25 June 1942, stating that he was now presumed dead; together with copied service papers and other research in a folder.