Medals from the Collection of the late Eric Smith

Three: Assistant Steward C. C. West, Merchant Navy, who was killed in action in the S.S. Orcades in October 1942

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, together with original Minster of Transport condolence slip in the name of Cecil Clifford West’, extremely fine (3) £60-80

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of the late Eric Smith.

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Cecil Clifford West was killed in action on 10 October 1942, when his ship the auxiliary transport Orcades was torpedoed and sunk by the U-172, commanded by Carl Emmermann, a holder of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, about 300 miles west-south-west of the Cape of Good Hope. The ship’s master, Captain Charles Fox, was awarded the C.B.E. and Lloyd’s Medal for Bravery at Sea on the same occasion, and as indeed were a number of other acts of bravery also recognised by medals and commendations. West, who left a widow resident in Brixton, London, was 37 years of age and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.