The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards

Four: Sapper T. S. Millen, South African Engineer Corps, killed when the S.S. Nova Scotia was torpedoed and sunk by the U-177 in the Indian Ocean, 29 November 1942

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War and Africa Service Medals, all officially named (115214 T. S. Millen); together with South African Memorial Plaque, mounted on a wooden base, with label below inscribed, ‘Killed in Action - World War 1939-1945, 115214 Spr. T. S. Millen, S.A.E.C.’, extremely fine (5)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards.

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Sapper Thomas Stirling Millen, South African Engineer Corps was killed when the S.S. Nova Scotia was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-177 in the Indian Ocean, East of Durban, on 29 November 1942. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial. His widow, who later re-married and became Mrs E. G. Koekman, lived at Loskop, Natal.

The S.S. Nova Scotia (Captain Alfred Hender) a transport ship of 6,796 tons, was en-route from Aden to South Africa carrying Italian internees and South African soldiers in addition to her crew, when she was spotted by the German U-177 (Captain Robert Gysae) to the south-east of Lourenço Marques. Believing the unescorted ship to be an auxiliary cruiser, the U-Boat attacked and the Nova Scotia was hit by three torpedoes. She sank burning by the bow within 10 minutes. The Germans only learned the true identity of the ship by questioning the survivors. Gysae reported the action to the BdU, who in turn passed on the information to the Portuguese who sent the frigate Alfonso de Albuquerque from Lourenço Marques to search for survivors; the U-177 being ordered to continue its patrol. The Portuguese vessel managed to rescue 17 crew members, one gunner, three military and naval personnel, one passenger, 42 guards and 130 internees - some 50 of the survivors being injured, suffering for the most part from oil burns. The Portuguese sailors described having to beat off sharks with boat hooks as they set about the rescue. The Master, 96 crew members, 10 gunners, eight military and naval personnel, five passengers, 88 South African guards and 650 Italian internees perished - the greatest loss of live in South African waters during the war.

Plaque in card forwarding box, with label reading, ‘115214 Millen T.S. ... Unable to trace n-o-k., P.O. Loskop, Natal. From O.C. War Records, Pretoria’. With copied service papers and research.