Medals from the Collection of the late Eric Smith

Three: R. S. Mills, Merchant Navy, who was killed in action in the S.S. Empire Mermaid in March 1941

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, in their original addressed card forwarding box together with related Minister of Transport condolence slip in the name of ‘Ronald E. Mills’, extremely fine (3) £60-80

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

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Ronald Stanley Mills was killed in action or died of wounds on 27 March 1941, while serving as a rating in the S.S. Empire Mermaid. Bombed and badly damaged off the north-west coast of Scotland, while carrying survivors from the S.S. Cape Nelson, the Empire Mermaid remained afloat for two days, sinking on the 28th. In the interim, the survivors abandoned ship, 19 subsequently dying in the First Officer’s boat, and another four through exposure or wounds in the Captain’s boat. Mills has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial; the above described card forwarding box is addressed to the recipient’s mother, ‘Mrs. E. Mills, 64 Exeter Street, Plymouth, Devon.’