Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War and post-war B.E.M. group of eight awarded to Chief Sailmaker Vernon C. C. Debenham, Royal Navy, who survived the loss of H.M.S. Diamond off Greece in 1941

British Empire Medal, (Military) E.II.R. (Ch. Slmr. Vernon C.C. Debenham, P/JX 620358.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals ; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 1st issue, with Long Service Bar (JX. 620358 V. C. C. Debenham. Slmr. H.M.S. Jamaica.) good very fine (8) £280-320

Provenance: Spink, March 1997.

B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1969: ‘Vernon Charles Croxon Debenham, Chief Sailmaker, Royal Navy.’

Sold with original decorative certificates for crossing the Arctic Circle (dated 19 November 1952) and the Spithead Coronation Review, 1953, when the recipient was serving in H.M.S. Swiftsure.

Vernon Charles Croxon Debenham was one of just 15 crew members to survive the loss of H.M.S. Diamond, a destroyer, off Greece on 26 April 1941. She had been actively engaged in the evacuation of troops throughout that month but was sunk by dive-bombers on the above date, having just rescued a large number of men from a transport in the Gulf of Nauplia. H.M.S. Wryneck met a similar fate on the same occasion. (Spink catalogue refers).