Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Eight: Lieutenant-Commander R. G. Archer, Royal Navy

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Naval General Service 1915-62, 2 clasps, Minesweeping 1945-51, Near East (Lieut. R. G. Archer. R.N.); Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (Lt. Cdr. R. G. Archer. R.N.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, nearly extremely fine (8) £400-£500

Robert George Archer was born in Bristol, Gloucestershire on 16 February 1921. Entering the Royal Navy as a Cadet at H.M.S. Vindictive on 1 January 1939, he was appointed Midshipman on 1 September 1939. Navy lists show the following service during the Second World War; The cruiser, H.M.S. Diomede, 4 August 1939 to May 1941, promoted Acting Sub Lieutenant, 1 May 1941 and Sub Lieutenant 16 June 1941. To the Cruiser, H.M.S. Edinburgh, 5 September 1941 to May 1942. In December 1941 and March 1942, H.M.S. Edinburgh provided cover to Arctic convoys bringing aid to the Soviet Union. On 9 April, she joined Distant Covering force for Russian convoy PQ 14 to Murmansk. On 29 April Edinburgh, on her own independent mission, left Murmansk for the UK and joined the escort for convoy QP 11. On 30 April, the German submarine; U-456, which had been alerted to the convoy, fired a torpedo at H.M.S. Edinburgh, hitting her starboard side and causing the ship list heavily. Soon after, U-456 put a second torpedo into Edinburgh's stern, wrecking her steering equipment and crippling her. In an attempt to get back to Murmansk, Edinburgh was taken in tow by several other ships from the convoy but due to her crippled state and under constant attack from German aircraft, progress was very slow. On 2 May, three German destroyers caught up with the stricken cruiser, which cast off its tow. Due to her damage, Edinburgh started to sail in circles but although her guns were in disarray, she still managed to fire on the attacking German ships. Her second salvo hit one of the German destroyers, damaging her so severely that her crew scuttled her. Edinburgh's escorts drove off the other two destroyers, however a torpedo that had been fired at one of the escorts struck Edinburgh amidships. The damage was so great, the crew abandoned ship. H.M.S. Gossamer took off 440 men and H.M.S. Harrier about 400. Two officers and 56 other ranks were killed in the attacks. After attempts to scuttle her quickly failed, H.M.S. Edinburgh was final sunk by a torpedo from H.M.S. Foresight. As well as escorting the convoy, H.M.S. Edinburgh had been bringing to the UK a consignment of Gold Bullion, which had a 1942 value of about £1.5 million (approximately £70 million today). In 1981, the majority of gold ingots were recovered by divers.

Archer was promoted Lieutenant on 16 September 1942, and two weeks later was appointed to H.M.S. Rockingham, serving aboard this Destroyer until August 1943. On 19 October 1943, he was appointed to the frigate, H.M.S. Keats, serving as 1st Lieutenant until January 1945. He spent the rest of the War at H.M.S. Golden Hind, a Royal Navy depot in Sydney, New South Wales. In February 1946, he was appointed to the minesweeper H.M.S Courier but it seems he may have only served aboard for two months. Promoted Lieutenant-Commander on 16 September 1950, he saw subsequent service in the Korean War and in the Near East, and retired on 23 May 1960.