A Collection of Medals to Second World War Casualties

Four: Able Seaman G. C. Crowther, Royal Navy, who was killed in action during Operation Tunnel when H.M.S. Charybdis, as part of an intercept group, was torpedoed by the German torpedo boat T-23 and sank off the Brittany coast, 23 October 1943

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; War Medal 1939-45, with named Admiralty enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. O. Crowther, Rose Cottage, Higher Batson, Salcombe, Devon’, extremely fine (4) £120-160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Casualties.

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Geoffrey Colin Crowther served during the Second World War as an Able Seaman in the Dido-class cruiser H.M.S. Charybdis, and was present in her during Operation Tunnel, when she was involved in the operation to intercept the German blockade runner Münsterland, which was carrying an important cargo of latex and strategic metals. On the evening of 22 October 1943, Charybdis and the destroyer H.M.S. Grenville and Rocket, together with four Hunt-class destroyers intercepted Münsterland off Ushant, Brittany. The Royal Navy force was itself attacked by the German 4th Torpedo Boat Flotilla, which was escorting the blockade runner. Shortly after 1:30 a.m. on 23 October Charybdis was torpedoed by the German torpedo boat T-23, and sank almost immediately with the loss of 30 officers and 432 ratings just off the North Coast of Brittany. The Münsterland was eventually forced ashore and destroyed west of Cap Blanc Nez by fire from British coastal artillery on 21 January 1944.

Crowther was amongst those killed, aged 22. Like many of his crew mates his body washed ashore, and he is buried in St. Brieuc Western Communal Cemetery, France. His medals were sent to his mother Olive Crowther.