Auction Catalogue

17 & 18 May 2016

Starting at 11:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 804

.

18 May 2016

Hammer Price:
£1,600

‘Ardent has been hit badly. We are proceeding to render assistance. Too late for fire-fighting. They are abandoning ship. I was sent up to help out. The back of the ship is ripped open like a tin can with flames and black smoke pouring out. All the blokes are on the superstructure dressed in survival suits and lifejackets. Two blokes are stuck behind the fire right on the back end. Jumped into sea, both get lifejackets on but no suits. A Wessex helicopter is picking them up. Alongside the ship now. 168 survivors, 20 missing, 30 injured, some seriously. Bloke came on with his fingers missing off his left hand, bandaged up roughly. Other blokes are covered in blood. Most of them suffering shock. It’s hard getting them to walk the right way … ’

Cardin’s diary entry for Friday 21 May 1982, refers.

The South Atlantic Medal awarded to Leading Radio Operator (General) P. Cardin, Royal Navy, who kept a diary of events aboard H.M.S. Yarmouth in the period April-July 1982 - a detailed and poignant record which is included with his Medal

South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (LRO (G) P. Cardin, D156563D, HMS Yarmouth), in its named card box of issue, with related H.M.S. Centurion forwarding letter, ship’s name officially corrected, good very fine £800-1000

H.M.S. Yarmouth, a Rothesay-class frigate, was commanded by Commander A. Morton, R.N., who was awarded the D.S.C. in respect of his ship’s part in the Falklands War. In the London Gazette of 8 October 1982, the citation for his decoration stated that it was ‘remarkable’ that the Yarmouth came through the operations unscathed … ‘She was in the thick of much of the action, accounting for several enemy aircraft in the Falkland Sound and San Carlos Water and carried out a prodigious amount of Naval Gunfire Support’.

Most notably that gunfire support was in respect of the attack on Mount Tumbledown, an action that contributed to
Yarmouth’s impressive expenditure of over 1,000 shells from her 4.5-inch guns in the period May-June 1982. Cardin and his shipmates also undertook valuable rescue operations, most notably on the occasion of the loss of H.M.S. Sheffield and H.M.S. Ardent (see above extract).

Fortunately for posterity’s sake, Cardin kept a diary of events during his time in the South Atlantic, a diary with numerous references to
Yarmouth’s “Air Raid Warning Reds”. Yet it serves too as a useful journal in respect of the bigger picture, in addition to relating some poignant stories:

‘Point of interest: During the exocet attack on us a few weeks ago, the day the
Sheffield was hit, a white dove was seen to land on our flight deck. A signal received today from Avenger, who was unsuccessfully attacked yesterday, reported a white dove landing on the foc’sle when the missile was sighted.’

And on the
Glamorgan’s losses:

‘Casualties from
Glamorgan: 12 dead, 16 injured (one seriously, both legs amputated). The injuries are bad again. Flight deck crew and cooks suffered the most. Eye injuries, broken arms and legs, smoke inhalation, cuts and shock … The missile went in through the flight deck (unusual for an Exocet).’

Sold with the recipient’s original desk diary, covering the period 5 April to 12 July 1982, 32pp., with often detailed hourly entries and commentary, covers and so spine worn, contents good.