Campaign Groups and Pairs 353 Four: Lieutenant G. F. Pack, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, all unnamed as issued and mounted as worn, good very fine
£80-120
Sold with Registered envelope addressed to the recipient, Order for Release from Naval Service (5 December 1945), Admiralty enclosure slip for medals, and four ‘flimsies’ as listed below:
9 October 1941,’ Sub-Lieut G. F. Pack RNVR has served in H.M.S. Excellent from the 29th day of September 1941 to the 4th day of October 1941, during which period he has been under instruction.’
6 March 1942, ‘George Frederick Pack has served as a Sub-Lieut and Lieutenant R.N.V.R. in H.M.S. Inch Marnock as a watch-keeping officer from the 25th day of November 1941 to the 19th day of February 1942, during which period he has conducted himself to my entire satisfaction, a capable and zealous officer - W. R. Bull [D.S.C., D.S.M.], Commander H.M.S. Ambitious.’
30 May 1945, ‘George Frederick Pack has served Temporary Lieutenant R.N.V.R. on staff of Flag Officer in Charge, Greenock, from 4th day of March 1942 to the 30th day of May 1945, during which period he has conducted himself entirely to my satisfaction. As a duty officer of my operational staff he has conducted himself in exemplary fashion. He is zealous and thorough to a degree. [signed] R. Hill, Rear-Admiral, Flag Officer in Charge, Greenock.’
7 December 1945, ‘G. F. Pack has served as Ty Lieutenant RNVR in H.M.S. Emperor from 4 day of November 1945 to the 7 day of December 1945, during which period he has conducted himself very much to my satisfaction. Though only borne for passage he has been of great assistance. [signed] Charles Madder, Captain of H.M.S. Emperor.’
354
Seven: Commander H. W. A. Moxley, C.D., Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve
1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Burma Star, 1 clasp, Pacific; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Canadian Forces Decoration,
G.VI.R. (Commander H. W. A. Moxley) mounted as worn, nearly very fine (7)
£300-£400
M.I.D. London Gazette 30 July 1942: ‘For leadership and skill in action against Enemy Submarines while serving in H.M. Ships Stork and Vetch.’
Henry William Athelstan Moxley was born in Bromley, Kent, on 16 May 1917. In his early life he gained employment with a leather manufacturer in Sheffield, but in September 1934 he sailed to Montreal, Canada, aboard the S.S. Cairncross. Two years later, he emigrated with employment provided in the Patent Leather trade in Toronto. Settling into the social side of life, he joined the local Royal Canadian Yacht Club, a move which was to imminently serve him well.
Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, with his sailing experience, he volunteered for service with the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve and with other R.C.N.V.R. officers, he was sent to England in April 1940 for attachment to the Royal Navy. Following the German invasion of the Low Countries and the ensuing debacle in France, Moxley was sent to join a demolition party aboard H.M.S. Beagle in June 1940, which sailed up the Gironde in order to blow an oil installation, but last minute orders cancelled the demolition and all explosives were recovered and returned to the ship for departure. This story was recorded by Moxley in later years and is available online via The Memory Project.
In 1941 Moxley served aboard H.M.S. Bluebell, a flower-class corvette deployed for escort duties, and was promoted to Lieutenant, R. C.N.V.R., on 12 April 1941. The following year he served aboard another corvette, H.M.S. Vetch. This vessel, in company with H.M.S. Stork, had a mid-Atlantic encounter with the German submarine U-252, which they sank on 14 April 1942, whilst escorting Convoy OG82 off the south-west of Ireland. Moxley was mentioned in despatches for this action. Other awards included the first of three Bars to the D.S.O. eventually awarded to Captain F. J. Walker, famously known as ‘Walker R.N.’
Moxley continued to serve throughout 1942-45 in other theatres and campaigns, including the naval operations in support of the invasion of North Africa, 1942-43; off Burma and the Indian Ocean; the Far East and Pacific Ocean; and the invasion of North-West Europe in 1944-45. Prior to his retirement he was promoted to Commander (Navigation), Royal Canadian Navy, with seniority from 1 January 1953. Commander Moxley died at Smiths Falls, Ontario, on 1 December 2006.
355
Eight: Captain G. D. Habesch, Mercantile Marine and Royal Fleet Auxiliary
1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Burma Star, 1 clasp, Pacific; War Medal 1939-45; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (G. D. Habesch.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Commemorative medal for the 40th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1945-85, bronze, the first seven mounted court-style as worn, the last loose, nearly extremely fine (8)
£200-£240
Geoffrey David Habesch was born in Bridlington, Yorkshire, on 5 April 1924 and after gaining his 2nd Mates Certificate joined he Merchant Navy Officers Reserve Pool and the Empire Prowess on the Russian Convoy JW-67. He saw further service in a variety of wartime theatres from the North Atlantic convoys to support of the North African campaign and the Far East and Pacific campaigns. After the War he had a short period with the Royal Army Service Corps before transferring to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service wither he saw further service during the Korean War.
Habesch remained with the R.F.A. until 1960 when he took up the first of his shore appointments with H.M. Colonial Service, employed as Senior Marine Officer with the Hong Kong Marine Department. Retiring from Hong Kong in 1972, he subsequently held various consultancy appoints for a number of different governments, in Europe, the Middle East, and Central and South America. He died in Hull on 7 March 2007.
Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient.
www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)
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