War Medals

J.106222 W.H.PALMER,PO., ROYAL NAVY:

1939/45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939/45 (all unnamed as issued); Naval Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, GVIR., (J.106222 W.H.Palmer, PO., HMS.'Egret') : (WILLIAM HENRY PALMER - Born 22 February 1907 at Portsmouth, Hampshire: Joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2Cl. on 19 September 1922: Served in numerous ships during peacetime and by the outbreak of war in 1939 had been promoted to the rank of Petty-Officer: Served in the Sloop HMS.'Egret', which was employed in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean as a convoy escort and defence vessel: Long Service & Good Conduct Medal awarded on 18 March 1940 and sent to HMS. 'Cocrane II', the tender supply base at Rosyth: HMS.'Egret' an Egret Class Sloop was launced on 31 May 1938 and was the first ship ever to be sunk by a guided missile: On 27 August 1943 'Egret' was one of the ships of 1st.Support Group, and was engaged in anti U-Boat patrols in the Bay of Biscay when the group was attacked by a squadron of eighteen German Dornier Do217 aircraft, carrying Henschel glider bombs: The covering destroyer, HMCS. 'Athabaskan', was heavily damaged by a bomb but 'Egret' which took a direct hit mid-ships, exploded and sank within minutes with the loss of 198 of her crew: The recipient is not listed as a casualty or as one of only the thirty-five survivors of the sinking and is believed to have left the ship whilst it was undergoing a refit in April 1943.) : A very scarce award named to one of the smaller ships of the Royal Navy, only in service for five years: Sold with verification and copy Service Record to 1 January 1929. Mounted for display purposes GVF/NEF - £325