Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Able Seaman R. P. Lempriere, who was killed in action on 27 July 1940, when H.M.S. Wren was sunk by a determined dive bombing attack by 15 Junkers (Ju 87) Stuka dive bombers

British War and Victory Medals; (J.44845 R. P. Lempriere Ord. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (J.44845 R. P. Lempriere. A.B. H.M.S. Resource.) contact marks, polished, therefore good fine and better (3) £100-£140

Raymond Percival Lempriere was born on 2 November 1899, at Pimlico, London. He commenced naval service as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Impregnable on 5 October 1915, and subsequently served in H.M.S. Marshall Ney from June 1916 to 15 August 1916, and was then appointed to H.M.S. Centaur, until January 1918, and then to H.M.S. Curacoa in January 1918. He was advanced Ordinary Seaman, on 2 November 1917 and Able Seaman in January 1919. He subsequently served in several ships including, H.M.S. Canterbury, H.M.S. Excellent, H.M.S. Vanessa, H.M.S. Vendetta, H.M.S. Saladin and H.M.S. Sturdy, amongst others. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in December 1932, and continued in service throughout the 1930’s, and in April 1939 was appointed to H.M.S. Wren. Pensioned in November 1939, he was retained for war service. He continued serving in H.M.S. Wren, and was killed in action on 27 July 1940. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Royal Navy Memorial.

The ‘W’ Class Destroyer H.M.S. Wren (D88), was sunk on 27 July 1940, when the ship was providing anti-aircraft protection for minesweeping operations off Aldeburgh, Suffolk. She came under heavy and sustained dive bombing attack by 15 Junkers Ju 87 aircraft and was damaged by several near misses which holed her below the waterline. Collapsed bulkheads caused heavy flooding which led her to sink quickly, killing 37 of her crew. Wren's survivors were rescued by the minesweepers.

Note: It appears from the medal rolls that his family requested the issue of replacements of these three medals, assuming them to have been lost at sea, and duplicates were issued in February 1941. These medals are not marked as duplicate or replacement issues and, given their condition, are almost certainly the original medals as first issued to the recipient.