Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Able Seaman A. Hunter, Royal Navy, who was among those lost in the destroyer H.M.S. Cossack, when she was torpedoed in the Atlantic in October 1941

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, together with Admiralty condolence slip in the name of ‘Alfred Hunter’, the recipient’s original Certificate of Service, and Seaman Gunner’s embroidered rank insignia, extremely fine (Lot) £180-220

Alfred Hunter, who was born at Steyning, Sussex in December 1918, joined the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman in July 1937. Advanced to Able Seaman in January 1939, he served in the English Channel in the monitor H.M.S. Erebus from the outbreak of hostilities until February 1940, soon after which, in mid-May, he joined the destroyer Cossack, recently returned from her famous exploits in Norway, among them the boarding and capture of the Altmark and the second battle of Narvik - she was still commanded by Captain (afterwards Admiral) P. L. Vian when Hunter joined her (and his Service Record is signed by him accordingly).

In October 1940, Cossack was again in action, this time in the Mediterranean, when, as flotilla leader of four destroyers in an action fought between Sicily and Libya, she surprised and totally destroyed an Italian convoy of three supply ships and two sloops. Then in May 1941, as part of Admiral Tovey’s destroyer force, Cossack participated in the chase and destruction of the Bismarck, one of the torpedoes fired by her flotilla causing a vital reduction in the enemy battleship’s speed. On 6 November 1941, however, and now under the command of Captain E. L. Berthon, R.N., Cossack was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic, with a loss of four officers and 154 ratings, Hunter being among the latter.