Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas (Part I)

The exceptional Second War Arctic convoy ‘QP. 10’ B.E.M. group of five awarded to Galley Boy C. E. Slaughter, Merchant Navy, who was ‘aged about 15 years’ at the time of his gallantry aboard the stricken merchantman Harpalion

British Empire Medal (Civil) G.VI.R., first issue (Charles Edward Slaughter); 1939- 45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted court-style, good very fine (5) £500-£700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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B.E.M. London Gazette 18 August 1942, in a joint citation with Steward J. F. Whyte and Fireman E. Ulke:

‘During heavy enemy air attacks, Slaughter, Whyte and Ulke displayed bravery and initiative as volunteers in maintaining steam after the ship had received damage below and when the conditions in the stokehold were both difficult and dangerous. It was largely due to their efforts that the vessel was brought safely to port.’

In point of fact, their vessel, the freighter S.S. Harpalion, had to be sunk by gunfire from H.M.S. Fury, after sustaining fatal damage inflicted by Ju. 88s when convoy QP. 10 came under attack on 13 April 1942.

Charles Edward Slaughter was, according to his captain’s action report, ‘about 15 years’ of age and ‘the first of the crew to volunteer’ to undertake perilous work in the stricken Harpalion’s stokehold.

Arctic convoy QP. 10 departed Murmansk on 10 April 1942, a convoy of sixteen merchantmen bound for Iceland with a naval escort comprising the cruiser H.M.S. Liverpool and seven destroyers, in addition to a minesweeper and two anti-submarine trawlers. From the moment it departed, the convoy came under relentless attack, not least from Ju. 88s of III/K.G. 30.

Harpalion’s D.E.M.S. gunners had already downed an enemy aircraft on the 11th but, as her captain’s report explains, the attacks on the 13th proved overwhelming:

‘We were all standing by the guns ready for an attack, and at 0607 the bombing attack commenced. About 8 bombs were dropped within 20-50 yards of my ship during this first attack, but no damage was done. We were firing with all our guns throughout the attack. The second attack began at 0703 and was made by 2 aircraft during which 4 bombs were dropped close to my counter and about 20 yards from the ship. These bombs had delayed action fuses and did not explode for some little time after hitting the water. When they did explode a column of water about 40 feet was thrown into the air.

At 0842 2 aircraft made a third attack on my ship, one approaching from the bow and the other from the stern and 8 bombs in sticks of 4 were dropped by each aircraft on my port bow about 50 yards away.

At 0940 a fourth attack was made. One aircraft flew in very close to my stern at a height of about 200 feet and dropped 4 bombs right under my counter some 10-20 feet from the stern. After this attack I found the vessel would not answer the bridge steering gear, so I ordered the after-hand gear to be put into operation, but I found that the quadrant moved but the rudder did not. I ordered an inspection to be made and it was found that the quadrant was broken away from the rudder and that the rudder post had been badly shattered. The engines were still working but the vessel was steaming away from the convoy as the ship was not under control … ’

At length, the order to abandon ship was given, but even then, the two boats that got away from the Harpalion were attacked by machine-gun fire from the Ju. 88s.

Sold with copied research including Convoy reports.

Another B.E.M. group is known named to this recipient