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

Four: Chief Engineman J. C. Penman, Royal Naval Reserve, who was awarded the D.S.M. and a “mention” for services in trawlers in the 1939-45 War

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oakleaf; Royal Naval Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (10135S. J. C. Penman, D.S.M., R.N.R.), this last with contact marks and edge nicks, nearly very fine, the remainder extremely fine (4) £180-220

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

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James Cormack Penman was born in Aberdeen in February 1913 and entered the Royal Naval Reserve as a Stoker in March 1937. Based at Wildfire II at Sheerness at the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939, with an appointment in H.M. Trawler Myrtle, he was advanced to Engineman and awarded the D.S.M. (London Gazette 1 January 1940 refers) and present on the occasion of her mining in the Thames estuary in June 1940.

Penman next transferred to the Ben Sclie at the Grimsby base Beaver that February, in which capacity he remained employed until the end of 1941, latterly on minesweeping duties out of another Grimsby base, Colonsay. It was also in this period that he won a “mention”, his service record noting for services in the drifter Benachie (London Gazette 1 January 1941 refers).

Following a brief appointment at the Lowestoft base Europa, Penman removed to the trawler Rumba, in which vessel he served until December 1942, operating out of Freetown, Sierra Leone and Lagos, Nigeria. Returning to home waters in early 1943, he served variously out of Lowestoft, Harwich, Ardrossan and Aberdeen, his appointments including the trawlers George Adgell from June 1943 to March 1944, and Acacia from November 1944 to August 1945.

Penman was released in the rate of Chief Engineman in December of the latter year and received his L.S. & G.C. Medal in November 1946; sold with copied service record.