Lot 3488

Description

Group of Four: 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45 (entitled to MID). Unnamed as issued. Extremely fine.

Together with Bermuda Football Association Cup Competition 1941 Winners medal in silver, with case; copies of MID recommendations; MID compliments slip from Admiralty with instructions for wearing; service medals box; copy of London Gazette pages.

MID: Fourth Supplement to LG 1/6/1945, p2852, to Chief Engine Room Artificer Francis Flynn,C/M.34688 (Sliema, Malta). Recommendation for operational award to Ch.ERA Francis Flynn, HMS St Angelo: R.Y.S.Kumanovo left Malta for Sicily on the 26th December, 1944 with 100 passengers. En route she ran into very bad weather (wind E.N.E., Force 7-8 and very rough sea with heavy rain) and got into difficulties, eventually having to be abandoned on the afternoon of 27th December. On hearing that the ship was in difficulties about 1000 on 27th December, Chief E.R.A. Flynn, who was a passenger on board, went to the bridge to offer his services. He then went down to the boiler-room where he found water up to the fire bars of the lower boiler and that the fires had been allowed to go out. He collected some Yugo-Slav stokers and in spite of language difficulties and reluctance on their part, managed to get them to assist in relighting the fires and raising steam. This work was continued until about 1530, when, as the pumps were blocked and no longer serviceable, nothing further could be be done.