Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Leading Seaman G. Griffiths, Royal Navy

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (J. 98546 L.S., H.M.S. Duncan), good very fine and better (4) £140-160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals for Services at Sea from the Collection of the Late Oliver Stirling Lee.

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George Griffiths was mentioned in despatches for his services aboard the destroyer H.M.S. Volunteer in convoys to Murmansk in March and May 1942 (Seedie’s and London Gazette 25 August 1942 refer). The convoys in question were almost certainly PQ. 16 and QP. 13, and the Volunteer went on to win three more Battle Honours before the War’s end, including “Normandy 1944”.

The well-known flotilla leader Duncan also had a glittering 1939-45 career, winning five Battle Honours, among them “Spartivento 1940” and “Malta Convoys 1941”, the latter for her participation in operations “Substance” and “Halberd”, but the absence of an Africa Star would suggest that Griffiths had been aboard her in earlier times.