Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Second War ‘Norwegian Coast 1940’ C.G.M. group of six awarded to Able Seaman R. H. Wellard, Royal Navy, whose gallantry when H.M.S. Pelican was dive bombed by enemy Ju-88s and severely damaged undoubtedly saved many lives and possibly the ship itself

Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, G.VI.R. (S.SX. 22441 R. H. Wellard. A.B. H.M.S. Pelican) officially impressed naming; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Ronal H. Wellard) mounted for display, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (6) £8,000-£12,000

C.G.M. London Gazette 25 June 1940:
‘For courage and resource in operations on the Norwegian Coast.’:- Able Seaman Ronald Harry Wellard, C/SSX 22441, H.M.S. Pelican.’ He received his decoration at an investiture on 18 March 1941.

In his official report dated 29 April 1940 (ADM 199/476) Commander Lennox Boswell, D.S.O., R.N., stated:

‘I wish particularly to mention the work of Able Seaman Ronald Wellard C/SSX.22441, who at considerable risk to himself, took a firehose down below the burning remains of “Y” gun and put out a fire in the flat below. Several live rounds of 4” ammunition were lying in the wreckage, which could only be approached over the wrecked open end of the ship, and was hidden by smoke and steam. The condition of “Y” magazine (directly below the fire) was unknown at the time.’

H.M.S. Pelican was attacked and dive bombed by enemy Junker 88 aircraft on 22 April 1940, and severely damaged. This ship and her crew suffered perhaps the most serious damage and casualties of any Royal Navy ship that survived and then returned, after repair, to war service. An official Norwegian war history even describes her as bombed, split in two and sunk.

The official Admiralty Restricted Book of Reference 1886 (2) on “H.M. Ships Damaged or Sunk by Enemy Action 3rd Sept. 1939 to 2nd Sept. 1945” describes the damage:

‘(i) One Direct Hit 250 lbs. delay action fused Bomb
(ii) Two Near Miss 250 lbs. direct action fused Bombs.

Time out of action:
7 months.

Brief Account of Damage and Lessons Learned:
Pelican was attacked by aircraft whilst proceeding off the Norwegian coast. The direct hit burst on impact with the quarter deck and exploded a number of depth charges stowed in the rails. As a result of the explosion the whole of the ship abaft ‘X’ mounting was destroyed. The near miss bombs caused severe splinter damage over a large area. Pelican was flooded from the plummer block compartments aft.

Fighting Efficiency:
Severely impaired. The vessel was immobilised and unseaworthy in rough weather. Half the ships armament was out of action.’

Further details of the crippling damage and casualties can be found in Commander Boswell’s report:

Damage Caused:

38. Four bombs were released simultaneously. One burst 100 feet Green from ‘X’ gun, splinters causing casualties to Upper Deck personnel from ‘B’ gun aft, and riddling the ship’s side.

39. Another bomb seems to have burst on the depth charges in one set of rails; there were 11 in one and 12 in the other touching side by side, besides the usual 8 standing by the throwers close by. All depth charges had primers inserted with pistols set to “safe”.

40. The explosion of the depth charges created a pressure wave, which disintegrated the ship abaft station 114, and worked forward until it met the strong structure of “Y” gun support and the gland space; here it seems to have blown away both sides and the bottom of the ship. Meanwhile the quarterdeck forward of station 114 was curled up over “Y” and “X” guns, the curl starting about station 95. The after bulkhead of the plummer block compartment was sound (station 94 below the Lower Deck), and the after bulkhead of the Ward Room (station 92 above the lower deck). There were no splinter marks visible on the turned up portion of the Quarter Deck.

41. Both propellor shafts were bent down, the starboard some 14 feet, and the port some 9 feet.

He confirms that “one quarter of the ship’s company had been killed, and there were a large number of badly wounded”.

After commending the admirable behaviour of the survivors, he specifically mentions the gallantry of Able Seaman Ronald Wellard, as already quoted above.

Ronald Harry Wellard was born at Dover, Kent, on 30 August 1918. He volunteered for a 12 year period in the Royal Navy on 13 September 1937, joining H.M.S. Pembroke on that date and advancing to Able Seaman on 13 February 1939. He joined H.M.S. Pelican on 17 June 1939, and continued in her until 21 February 1941.

After the end of the Second World War, on 10 November 1945, Able Seaman Ronald Wellard, C.G.M. was released under Class A and enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve in which he served until March 1954. He also served as a Special Constable and received the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, and as a uniformed guard at a National Trust property in Kent.

Sold with original photograph of Wellard holding his medals, original Certificate of Service and Gunnery History Sheet; together with copied research including full Admiralty report.