Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas

The unique Second War ‘Maritime R.A.’ M.M. group of seven awarded to Gunner F. J. Carus, 6th Maritime Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery, who, though wounded in several places, continued to engage enemy aircraft as his ship broke up and sank beneath him

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (3717702 Gnr. F. J. Carus. R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp France and Germany; Africa Star; Burma Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, these last six privately inscribed ‘3717702 Gunr. F. J. Carus, M.M., Maritime R.A.’, mounted as worn, extremely fine and unique (7) £1,800-£2,200

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

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Only six M.Ms were awarded for actions at sea in the Second World War, prior to Admiralty Orders in Council of July 1942 and November 1942 extending the award of the D.S.M. and D.S.C. to Army personnel. In consequence, Carus was the first and only Maritime R.A. gunner to be awarded the M.M. in the last war.

M.M. London Gazette 21 October 1941: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East.’

The original recommendation states:

‘On 25 May 1941, Gunner Carus was a member of an A.A. protection party on the tanker Helka. His Sergeant in charge reports as follows: “Just outside Tobruk we were attacked by 27 bombers, according to the warning issued from TOBRUK. Gunner Carus, though hit in several places, and although the ship had been blown in two pieces, continued firing his gun until he was pulled away and told to get in his boat.’

Francis Joseph Carus was born in Liverpool, Merseyside on 25 May 1911 and originally served in the King’s Own Royal Regiment. Of subsequent events off Tobruk in the tanker Helka in May 1941, the following action report was submitted by Bombardier T. Russell, a fellow member of 6th Maritime A.A. Battery, R.A.:

‘I was 2nd N.C.O.-in-Charge of the Troop on board the S.S. Helka proceeding to Tobruk from Alexandria. We were attacked by 27 Dive Bombers (German markings). We and our Escort opened fire, our Escort being H.M. Sloop Grimsby and an Armed Trawler the Southern Maid. All guns were in action and our ship received a direct hit with a bomb and split in two parts. We carried on firing to the last. The Grimsby had already been hit and was sinking. Owing to the flurry and excitement caused, the accuracy of our fire was indefinite although some of the planes left rather hurriedly damaged. The Officer-in-Charge gave orders to abandon ship and men dived overboard to swim to the only lifeboat which was freed and floating away from the ship.

Gunner Carus was still firing the gun of the aft deck although badly wounded. I and an Australian Sergeant went aft and had to use physical force to get Gunner Carus away from the gun, in order that we could get him off the ship before she exploded - her cargo was bensine (sic) spirit. The total number of survivors I do not know. We were picked up by the Armed Trawler and a Roll Call was made. Gunner Cunliffe was missing - the last anyone saw of him, he was on the for’ead part of the ship that was being taken away by the current. Gunner Gilbert was admitted to hospital at Almaza Camp, Cairo with sun-fly fever. I might add that all the Troop acted in a most efficient manner and their conduct was exemplary and no man ever thought of himself first.’

The recommendation for Carus’s M.M. was endorsed by General Auchinleck, C.-in-C. Middle East and he received his award at a Buckingham Palace investiture held on 20 July 1943.

His recently released D.E.M.S. gunner’s service record reveals that he also served in the tanker Athel Monarch (December 1941-September 1942); the steamship Sirsa (September-December 1942); the steamship City of Barcelona (December 1942-June 1943); the corrugated ship Colytto (November 1943-May 1944); the Isle of Wight shore establishment Vectis (June-July 1944); Sam Austral (July 1944-December 1944), and the steamship Obsidian (January-May 1945).

He died back in Liverpool in December 1978.

Sold with his original investiture admittance ticket and copied ‘Secret’ action report