Ten: Chief Mechanic (E.) G. S. C. Dean, Royal Navy

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Pacific Star, clasp, Burma; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46 (KX. 98586 P.O., R.N.), with additional ‘R.’ for replacement; Korea 1950-53 (KX. 98586 P.O., R.N.), with additional ‘R.’ for replacement; U.N. Korea; U.S.S.R. 40th Anniversary Medal, nearly extremely fine (10) £200-250

Gordon Stanley Cecil Dean was born at Woolwich, London in April 1921 and entered the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class in October 1939.

In July of the following year he joined the cruiser H.M.S. Sheffield, in which ship he served until coming ashore to Pembroke in December 1942. He was consequently present in the Bismarck action in 1941, one of nine Battle Honours won by Sheffield during his time aboard, another one being for “Barents Sea 1942”, in which “V.C. action” the Sheffield sunk the German destroyer Friedrich Eckholtd. In March 1943 Dean joined the destroyer (later frigate) Tyrian, in which ship he served until the end of the War, and was consequently present at the Sicily and the South of France landings, in addition to other operations in the Aegean in 1944.

Further active service followed in the frigate Widemouth Bay in the S.E. Asia operations of 1945-46, and in the cruiser Birmingham during the Korean conflict. He had, meanwhile, been advanced to Petty Officer Stoker Mechanic, and was finally pensioned in the rate of Chief Mechanic (E.) in November 1961, having latterly served at several submarine depots.

Sold with the recipient’s original parchment Certificate of Service and Soviet Embassy forwarding letter for the 40th Anniversary Medal, dated 10 December 1987.