A Collection of Medals to Second World War Casualties (Part II) 969
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
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.
970
Three: Leading Wireman E. J. Trendell, Royal Navy, who was killed in action on Sword Beach on D-Day whilst serving in Landing Craft Tank (Armoured) 2191, 6 June 1944
1939-45 STAR; FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR; WAR MEDAL 1939-45, with named Admiralty enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. A. M. Trendell, 15 Ripon Road, Plumstead, London SE18.’, extremely fine (3)
£200-240
Edward Joseph Trendell served during the Second World War as a Leading Wireman, and took part in the D-Day landings in the Landing Craft Tank (Armoured) 2191. Beaching on the easternmost flank of the Queen Red sector of Sword Beach, 2191 discharged her Centaur tanks before she was approached by a mobile German 88mm gun from her portside. ‘A crew member shouted a warning and her commanding officer, Sub Lieutenant J. Roney, gave the order for the gun crews to open fire. However, against an 88mm the men aboard 2191 stood little chance. The first shell to hit exploded immediately portside of the bow door. The blast killed Sub Lieutenant Sidney Green and Wireman Edward Trendell, both of whom had been manning the portside winch (the mechanism for lowering and raising the door or ramp).’
Trendell was aged 20 at the time of his death. He is buried in Hermanville War Cemetery, France. His medals were sent to his mother Ada Mary Trendell.
971
Three: Telegraphist R. E. Cheney, Royal Navy, who was killed in action when H.M.S. Kite, on escort duty with Russian convoy JW-59, was torpedoed by the German submarine U-344 and sank in the Barents Sea, 21 August 1944
1939-45 STAR;ATLANTIC STAR;WARMEDAL 1939-45, with named Admiralty enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mr. A. E. Cheney, 3 Hatton Park Road, Wellingborough, Northants.’, extremely fine (3)
£100-140
Ronald Elson Cheney served during the Second World War as a Telegraphist in the modified Black Swan-class sloop H.M.S. Kite, that between January and February 1944 took part in the famous ‘6 in one trip’ patrol that sunk six enemy submarines in the North Atlantic south west of Ireland, 31 January to 19 February 1944. On 20 August 1944, whilst escorting convoy JW-59 to Northern Russia, H.M.S. Kite, together with a swordfish aircraft from H.M.S. Vindix identified an enemy submarine shadowing the convoy. Despite attacking the target the hunt, which went on throughout the night, proved fruitless. The following morning at 6:40 a.m. Kite slowed to 6 knots to untangle her ‘foxers’ (anti-acoustic torpedo noise makers, towed astern). Whilst at her most vulnerable she was hit by a spread of three torpedoes fired by the enemy submarine U-344. She heeled over, lost her stern, and sank almost immediately. Out of her crew of 10 officers and 207 ratings there were only 9 survivors.
Cheney was amongst those killed. He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. His medals were sent to his father Alfred Elson Cheney.
972
Four: Lieutenant D. F. M. Sexton, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action in Landing Craft L-256 during Operation Infatuate- the assault on Walcheren, 1 November 1944
1939-45 STAR; FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR; DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS 1939-45, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. C. Sexton, 13B Marinefield Road, Fulham, London, SW6’, extremely fine (4)
£140-180
Douglas Frederick Maurice Sexton served during the Second World War as a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, attached to H.M.S. Copra. He was killed in action during Operation Infatuate, the amphibious landings on the heavily defended Dutch island of Walcheren, as part of the operation to open the port of Antwerp to shipping, when his landing craft, L-256, came under sustained and heavy enemy machine gun and mortar fire.
Sexton is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. His medals were sent to his mother Mrs. C. Sexton. 973
Three: Ordinary Telegraphist R. W. A. Stovell, Royal Navy, who was killed in action when H.M.S. Cassandra, as part of a Russian Convoy group, was torpedoed by the German submarine U-365 off Kola Inlet in the Barents Sea, 11 December 1944
1939-45 STAR;ATLANTIC STAR;WARMEDAL 1939-45, with named Admiralty enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mr. W. E. Stovell, 76 Auckland Road, Ilford, Essex’, extremely fine (3)
£100-140
Roy William Arthur Stovell served during the Second World War as an Ordinary Telegraphist in the C-class Destroyer H.M.S. Cassandra, serving primarily in Northern waters, escorting Russian Convoys. On 11 December 1944 Cassandra was hit by a torpedo from the German submarine U-365, which resulted in the loss of 62 men; reports suggested that the largest loss of life was from the telegraphy rooms.
Stovell was amongst those killed. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. His medals were sent to his father William Stovell.
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