Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Lieutenant (Electrical) A. W. Durrant, Royal Navy

Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (MX. 46148 A. W. Durrant, C.E.A. 2, R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Burma Star, clasp, Pacific; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted as worn, minor contact wear, good very fine (7) £120-140

Alfred William Durrant was born at Sheerness, Kent in February 1906 and entered the Royal Navy as an Engine Room Artificer 4th Class in February 1927. Advanced to Warrant Engineer in August 1938, he was serving in H.M.S. Sheffield about the time of the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939. He was subsequently present at the Bismarck action in May 1941 and employed on important convoy work on the Malta and Arctic run, prior to removing to the carrier Formidable in September 1942.

The Formidable won no less than eight Battle Honours in the 1939-45 War, ranging from ‘Matapan 1941’ to ‘Japan 1945’, with five Mediterranean honours in between. In the Pacific campaign, in which Durrant was present, her armoured deck saved her from major damage after being hit by two kamikaze aircraft.

On 9 August 1945, at Onagawa Bay, Lieutenant Robert Hampton ‘Hammy’ Gray, D.S.C., R.C.N.V.R., flying a Corsair from Formidable, led an attack on a Japanese destroyer. Gray's attack sank the destroyer, although his aircraft was shot down and he was killed. Gray was later posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. He was one of only two Fleet Air Arm aircrew to win the V.C. in the Second World War.

Post-war, Durrant was promoted to Senior Commissioned Electrical Officer in April 1947, and he was placed on the Retired List as a Lieutenant (Electrical) in October 1952. He died at Bournemouth in 1984; sold with copied service record.