Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Able Seaman L. D. Titley, Royal Navy

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; French Croix de Guerre 1939, with riband star fitment; Soviet 40th Anniversary Medal 1945-85, good very fine and better, rare (6) £200-250

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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Original accompanying documentation confims that Titley was decorated by the French for his services aboard the destroyer H.M.S. Meteor in a successful night action fought off Spezia on17 March 1945. In company with the Lookout, the Meteor sunk the enemy torpedo boats TA 29 and TA 32, and picked up just over 100 survivors, including the commander of the German 10th T.B. Flotilla. She had earlier served on Arctic convoy duties and was also credited, in company with the Whitehall, of the destruction of the U-314 off the North Cape in January 1944. In passing, it is worth noting that Oliver Stirling Lee also served in the Meteor during these perilous runs to Murmansk.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, comprising Admiralty letter of notification for the French Croix de Guerre, dated 31 October 1945; French Ministry of Defence (Marine) communication dated 24 July 1950, confirming the circumstances behind the same award; Soviet 40th Anniversary Medal 1945-85 issuance card, and related forwarding letter from the Ministry of Defence (H.M.S. Centurion), dated 15 May 1992.