A Second War ‘Cruiser Operations’ B.E.M. group of six awarded to Chief Mechanician G. Hammond, Royal Navy

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Ch. Mech. George Hammond, D/K. 59991 R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (K. 59991 Ch. Mech. 2, H.M.S. Royal Oak), together with two related prize medals, one in silver for a cutter competition mounted by H.M.S. Caledon in 1926, generally good very fine (8) £240-£280

Provenance: Bertram Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, 17 September 2004.

B.E.M. London Gazette 1 July 1941.

George Hammond was decorated for his services aboard H.M.S. Ceres (Seedie’s refers). A Great War-vintage cruiser, the Ceres was extensively engaged in operations against the Italians off East Africa in 1940, and afterwards in the Indian Ocean. In the former operations she assisted in the evacuation of military and civilian personnel from British Somaliland.

Whether Hammond was aboard the battleship Royal Oak when she was famously torpedoed in Scapa Flow on 14 October 1940 remains unknown. Out of her complement of 1234 officers and ratings, just over 400 survived.