Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part II)

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (J. 114106 H. J. H. Roberts, P.O., H.M.S. Kempenfelt) good very fine £60-80

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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The ‘C’-class destroyer H.M.S. Kempenfelt served briefly in the 18th Destroyer Flotilla, Channel Force, based at Portland, prior to being transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy and renamed Assiniboine in October 1939. It might well be that Roberts had departed her before even this brief spell of active service, but thereafter he certainly had an interesting war, gaining a mention in despatches for his services as a member of the Staff of the Senior Naval Officer Landing (S.N.O.L.) in “Operation Husky”, a post that more than likely witnessed his attachment to a Royal Naval Commando (Seedie’s and London Gazette 21 December 1943 refer). He is recorded, moreover, as having been taken P.O.W. and incarcerated in Marlag und Millag Nord at Tamstedt.