Four: Stoker First Class L. Holland, Royal Navy, who survived the loss of H.M.S. Gossamer in Arctic waters in 1942

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (K.66999 L. Holland. Sto.1. H.M.S. Resource.) good very fine (4) £140-£180

Luther Holland was born in Bangor on 30 May 1902 and attested for the Royal Navy at Portsmouth as Stoker 2nd Class on 5 December 1920. Raised Stoker 1st Class aboard the cruiser Dublin 11 April 1922, he witnessed early service with the 6th Squadron at the Africa Station before serving aboard a host of ships and stone frigates including Weymouth, Lucia, Champion, Courageous and London. Posted to the repair ship Resource 19 September 1934, he was granted a hurt certificate a few months later when a piece of flying metal from a drilling machine imbedded in the cornea of his right eye.

Transferred from the minesweeper Leda to her sister ship Gossamer on 4 October 1940, Holland was soon heavily engaged in minesweeping and escort operations as part of the 6th Minesweeping Flotilla, Nore Command. In 1941, the 6th Flotilla joined Orkney & Shetland Command and the Western Approaches Command, and in October 1941 Gossamer formed a key part of the defensive shield protecting North Russian convoy PQ1, docking in Archangel on 11 October 1941. On 30 April 1942, Gossamer left Murmansk to assist H.M.S. Edinburgh which had been torpedoed whilst escorting convoy QP11; harried by German destroyers the following day, it fell to Gossamer to rescue 440 survivors from the stricken cruiser.

Remaining in North Russian waters, Gossamer’s luck ran out on 24 June 1942 when she was sunk by the Luftwaffe while at anchor in the Kola Inlet. Three officers and 20 ratings died. The subsequent report on her loss held in ADM/12285 describes the circumstances:

‘One (or two) bombs struck the ship slightly on the starboard side of the centre line between the minesweeping winch and the wardroom. The whole of the stern portion of the ship abaft the wardroom was practically severed from the remainder of the ship and the ship began to settle by her stern. Hussar was signalled to stand by. The port whaler was lowered to the upper deck and the wounded were put in a boat. Such floats and rafts as remained were got over the side. The order was then passed to abandon ship, but, almost immediately, the ship began to turn over slowly to starboard. The order was then passed ‘every man for himself, get clear of the ship!’ The ship turned over at 0921, or eight minutes after being hit.’

It was later estimated that fifteen men died in the explosion, with the remainder lost when she turned over and sank. The survivors - including Holland - were promptly rescued by four Russian power boats and one rowing boat, who delivered the crew to Hussar. Returned home to the south coast of England, Holland was released Class ‘A’ on 9 November 1945.

Sold with the recipient’s original card dog tag, Royal Navy parchment Certificate of Service and reference whilst attached H.M.S. Kilbride, this dated 31 December 1944: ‘Excellent worker, has good power of command’; National Registration Identity Card and Medical Card, with a large photograph of the recipient in naval uniform and contemporary group photographs; Third Class Certificate of Education and photograph relating to his elder brother, 3902514 Pte. F. Holland, 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers; together with an attractive prize-winning pair of silver rowing oars, the first engraved ‘Mediterranean Fleet Fleet Cup Races 1933. L. Holland. Stokers Cutters. Renown Cup Winners’, the second engraved ‘Mediterranean Fleet Cruiser Regatta 1933. L. Holland. Stokers Cutters Winners.’, approx. 20cm long each, hallmarked Birmingham 1933.