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A Fine Collection of Life Saving Awards 429


ROYALHUMANE SOCIETY, small silver medal (successful) (James Robbins, 26th Sept. 1940) with silver brooch bar on ribbon - lacking pin, edge bruising, very fine


£300-350


‘At 9.20 a.m. on the 26th September, 1940, at Flathouse Quay, Portsmouth, a Motor Torpedo Boat was lying alongside with some 1,500 gallons of petrol on board, when an explosion occurred, followed by a very serious fire on board, and many petrol fires started in the sea. Fitter James Robbins, badly injured in the head, together with Thomas A. Wilkins, Leslie Jones and T. Harrison, were blown into the sea. Two other persons lost their lives, and eighteen were seriously injured.


Robbins, in spite of scalp wounds, burns and shock sustained by himself, seized and supported Wilkins, who was seriously injured, until relieved by Percy le Clercq.


Apprentice Fitter Percy le Clercq dived 20 feet from the quay fully clad, swam about 20 yards to the burning Motor Torpedo Boat, and taking the injured Wilkins from Robbins, brought him to the launch. He then swam to where Jones, also injured, was clinging to the Motor Torpedo Boat and took him to a dinghy.


Aircraftsman Charles W. Gard, Royal Air Force, who also dived from the quay fully clad, swam to the spot where it was believed Harrison had sunk. He dived repeatedly in the water covered with burning petrol in an effort to find Harrison, but without success. Harrison's body was found in tangled wreckage later.


Both rescued men were non-swimmers. Danger of further explosions.’ (ref. Acts of Gallantry). Silver Medal awarded to James Robbins, and Bronze Medals to Percy le Clercq and Aircraftsman Charles W. Gard.


430 Five: Leading Seaman John Joseph Phelan, Royal Navy, killed in action, serving on H.M.S. Gloucester, 11 January 1941


1939-45 STAR;ATLANTIC STAR;WARMEDAL 1939-45, these unnamed; ROYALNAVY L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (J.106536 A/L. S., H.M.S. Gloucester); ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY, small bronze medal (unsuccessful) (John J. Phelan, Royal Navy, 19th Oct. 1931) mounted for display; together with a ‘H.M.S. Resolution’ Prize Medal, 32mm., bronze, reverse inscribed, ‘Boy J. Phelan 2nd B.S. Boxing 1925’, good very fine and better (6)


£240-280


John Joseph Phelan was born a Roman Catholic in Plymouth, Devon on 29 May 1907. An Errand Boy by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 21 November 1922, being advanced to Boy 1st Class in September 1923. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in May 1925 when on H.M.S. Resolution and Able Seaman in November 1925 when on H.M.S. Watchman.


On 19 October 1931, Phelan was serving as an Able Seaman aboard H.M.S. Vidette in the Firth of Forth. On that day Able Seaman Bertie G. Emery fell overboard whilst hoisting out the target for gunnery practice. Wind 25 mph, sea choppy. Sub Lieutenant Alistair G. G. Tulloch (23) swam with a line 40 yards windward of the man who sank. Phelan swam to the man and tried to tow him to a lifebuoy but had to let go. Both Tulloch and Phelan were awarded the R.H.S. Medal in Bronze (Unsuccessful) (R.H.S. Case no. 51,052).


Phelan served on the cruiser H.M.S. Gloucester from January 1939; being advanced to Acting Leading Seaman in October 1939 and confirmed in that rank in October 1940. He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. with gratuity on 27 September 1940.


On 11 January 1941, the Gloucester in company with Southampton, taking part in Operation Excess - supporting convoys between Malta and Greece, came under attack from Stuka dive-bombers. The Gloucester was hit by a bomb which resulted, according to the ship’s log, in ‘one officer, S. Lt. Burford, R.N.V.R., 7 Marines, 1 Torpedoman killed, 14 wounded’. Amongst the dead was Leading Seaman Phelan. H.M.S. Southampton was badly damaged in the attack, suffering 22 officers and 59 ratings killed, and later had to be scuttled.


With original Certificate of Service; extract from the Gloucester’s log for 11 January 1941, and extracts from R.H.S. records.


431


Seven: Petty Officer Robert Henthorn, Royal Navy


1939-45 STAR; ATLANTIC STAR; AFRICA STAR, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; ITALY STAR; WAR MEDAL 1939-45, these unnamed; ROYAL NAVY L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (JX.161402 R. Henthorn, P.O., H.M.S. Heron); ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY, small bronze medal (successful) (Petty Officer Robert Henthorn, 28th Jan. 1950) mounted for display, very fine (7) £200-240


‘H.M.S. Vengeance and H.M.S. Alamein were in company in a position ..... [Bay of Biscay] ... when Petty Officer Janes (32), attempting to secure a gangway on board H.M.S. Vengeance fell over the side. Petty Officer Henthorn (27) at once went in with a line from H.M.S. Alamein, and swam 20-30 yards to the man. At the time there was a short choppy sea running which made swimming very difficult. Henthorn supported Janes until both were hauled alongside. Janes was completely exhausted. The rescue took 10 minutes and was attended with “considerable risk of drowning”. Salvor was fully clothed.’ (R.H.S. Case no. 61,361). With copied rescue details.


432


ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY, small bronze medal (successful) (Radio Officer John Mark Sutton, R.F.A.S., 8th Sept. 1957) mounted as worn, in Spink, London case of issue, edge bruise, good very fine


£140-180


The rescue took place in the sea off Christmas Island, Pacific Ocean, on 8 September 1957 and involved men serving on a Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ship.


‘On leaving the ship, Able Seaman George Edward Baxter was sat in the forward part of the Liberty Boat. As the boat was proceeding towards the shore, Baxter apparently decided to sit on the gunwhale of the boat, although he knew this was against the regulations. In doing so, he overbalanced and fell from the boat into the sea. Radio Officer John Mark Sutton dived overboard, swimming to Baxter’s assistance and kept him afloat until the Liberty Boat could be turned round and brought alongside the two men. Sutton dived into what was known to be shark infested sea, to the assistance of Baxter, who is a heavily built type of man and who was at the time in a state of panic. The total time Baxter was actually in the water may have been about five or six minutes. After being taken out of the water Baxter was conscious and violently sick.’ (R.H.S. Case No. 65,644). With R.H.S. copied extracts.


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