Medals from the Collection of the Late Eric Smith (Part II)

Four: Petty Officer (A.) W. S. Shotton, Fleet Air Arm, a Swordfish T.A.G. and veteran of attacks mounted by the Ark Royal in the Mediterranean prior to her loss in November 1941, who died on active service in May 1944 while operating out of the M.A.C. (Merchant Armed Cruiser) S.S. Empire McCabe

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, in their original addressed card forwarding box, the side inscribed, ‘DNA (Wills)’ and ‘3747/1944’, together with related Admiralty condolence slip in the name of William Stanley Shotton’, extremely fine (4) £150-200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of the late Eric Smith.

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William Stanley Shotton was accidentally killed on 27 May 1944, while serving as a T.A.G. in 836 Squadron in the M.A.C. (Merchant Armed Cruiser) S.S. Empire McCabe.

According to an accompanying letter, Shotton, was born in South Shields in November 1921, was present in the famous Swordfish strike against the Bismarck in May 1941, flying as T.A.G. in an 818 Squadron aircraft from the Ark Royal, but the published nominal roll of relevant aircrew does not confirm him as present. More certain is the fact he did participate in an earlier attack against Spezia on 9 February 1941.

Shotton later served in 820 Squadron in the Formidable, and joined 836 Squadron, his final posting in 1944, which unit was based at the Air Station Shrike, where resident aircraft were used to equip M.A.Cs - and it was in this latter capacity, while in the S.S. Empire McCabe, that he was killed by a rocket accidentally fired by an aircraft in the deck park. He was buried at sea and is commemorated on the Lee on Solent Memorial; the above described card forwarding box is addressed to the recipient’s father, ‘Mr. W. Shotton, 93 The Grove, Chalvay, Slough, Bucks.’