The John Goddard Collection of Important Naval Medals and Nelson Letters

The South Atlantic medal awarded to Submariner (SSM) N. A. Webster, who served in H.M. Submarine Conqueror during the Falklands War

South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (S(SSM) N A Webster D182629J HMS Conqueror) together with its named card box of issue, good very fine £1200-1400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The John Goddard Collection of Important Naval Medals and Nelson Letters.

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Provenance: Buckland Dix & Wood, June 1994.

S (SSM) is the abbreviation for Submariner (Sensors Submarines) in the Warfare Branch of the Submarine Service.

H.M.S. Conqueror was a Churchill-class nuclear powered fleet submarine that served in the Royal Navy from 1971 to 1990. In the early hours of 2nd May 1982, Conqueror, with Commander Wreford-Brown in command, began surveillance of the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano whilst assisting in the enforcement of the Total Exclusion Zone around the Falkland Islands. In total compliance with the authority given later in the day, Commander Wreford-Brown took Conqueror into a classic attack, hitting the cruiser with two torpedos from a range of 1200 yards. Conqueror then withdrew after successfully evading a depth charge attack by two escorting destroyers. The General Belgrano subsequently sank.

Following this action, Conqueror continued to play a full part in the operations, including periods spent close inshore in shallow water. On one occasion, for example, she penetrated into Gulf San Marias in rough weather conditions in water only 27 fathoms deep. She was continuously at sea for longer than any other Royal Navy Submarine. After the sinking of the General Belgrano, the Argentine Navy withdrew to remain within their twelve mile limit for the remainder of the campaign. H.M.S. Conqueror's action was instrumental in proving the efficiency of the submarine blockade which, firmly deterring any action by enemy surface forces, allowed the Task Force Commander to concentrate his surface units against the air threat, thereby minimising damage and casualties to our own forces.