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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 393

'On one such convoy to Malta in March 1942, they came under heavy aircraft attack. Mr. Rice recalled that the crew of H.M.S. Legion were at action stations for 72 hours and in the few days that it took them to get to Malta they claimed a number of aircraft.

When they reached Malta they came in for more action. Mr. Rice was on the bridge when he spotted 20 enemy aircraft coming towards them. The crew were called to actions stations but being in harbour were unable to take any evasive action. They suffered eight direct hits and the call came to abandon ship. Many of the crew were killed but Mr. Rice managed to escape with a head wound …'

An extract from a post-war newspaper interview with Able Seaman J. W. Rice, late of H.M.S. Legion.

A well-documented Second World War campaign group of five awarded to Able Seaman J. W. Rice, Royal Navy, who witnessed extensive action in the Mediterranean in the destroyer H.M.S. Legion in 1941-42

Just how extensive may be gleaned from the fact his skipper, Commander R. F. Jessel, R.N., was awarded the D.S.O. and D.S.C. and Bar, and thrice mention in despatches, in the same period

As famously captured on camera, Legion
went to the assistance of the torpedoed Ark Royal, closing the sinking carrier and bringing off 1500 officers and ratings - many of whom jumped onto hammocks placed on Legion's foredeck

Otherwise heavily engaged on the Malta-run - she sank an Italian submarine during Operation "Halberd" - Legion
also lent valuable service at the battle of Cape Bon, when she assisted in the destruction of at least two Italian cruisers

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (5)


John William Rice was born at Chorlton, Manchester on 13 April 1906 and entered the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman in June 1941.

In late August of the same year, after attending Ganges and Pembroke, he joined the destroyer H.M.S. Legion at Gibraltar. He would remain similarly employed up until her loss at Malta in 1942, having witnessed much action in the interim.

Legion's first notable action after Rice joined her was the Malta convoy Operation "Halberd" in September 1941, during which the ship came under sustained air attack. It was on returning from the operation - in the company of her consorts Halberd and Gurkha - that she contributed to the destruction of the Italian submarine Adua.
'It was a tricky job because her wireless masts were in the down position and might have wiped Legion's mast … '

On 13 November 1941, after joining the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, Legion was present on the occasion the carrier Ark Royal was torpedoed off Gibraltar by the U-81. In the company of her consort Lightning, she raced to the stricken carrier's assistance, Commander Jessel displaying marked skill in bringing her alongside Ark Royal and helping to embark 1500 officers and ratings, many of whom jumped into hammocks that had been rigged-up on Legion's foredeck.

On 13 December 1941, Legion was present at the battle of Cap Bon, on which occasion she contributed to the destruction of the Italian cruisers Alberto di Giussano and Alberico da Barbiano. Following this success, Rice and his shipmates assisted Kipling when they took out the U-75 off Marsa Matruh on 28 December.

Loss of the Legion - head wound
Further laurels were gained for a torpedo attack carried out by Legion in the Second Battle of Sirte on 19 March 1942, but on returning to Malta after the action, she was attacked and severely damaged by enemy aircraft.

Commander Jessel was compelled to run her up the beach at Marsaxlokk, from whence - after emergency repairs to make her hull watertight - she was towed to Valetta on the 25th. And it was here - as related by Rice in the above cited newspaper interview - that Legion was mortally damaged by several direct bomb hits. Her forward magazine exploded and she rolled over and sank in the harbour, her bridge and funnel lying against the jetty.

Rice was wounded in the head, hospitalised and evacuated to Port Said in H.M.S. Penelope a fortnight later; his service record confirms his receipt of a Certificate for Wounds & Hurts, dated 4 April 1942.

Subsequent wartime career

As verified by a copy of his service record, Rice was borne on the books of Stag at Port Said until January 1943. A month or two later, however, he was drafted for 'special service', namely an appointment for landing craft duties. He duly saw action off Salerno in the Landing Ship (Tank) 360, prior to serving at the shore establishments Hannibal at Algiers and Byrsa at Naples.

On returning to the U.K. in March 1944, Rice held an appointment as a naval policeman attached to New Scotland Yard. He was deemed 'physically unfit for Naval service' in December 1945 and died at Colwyn Bay in April 1981.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, comprising:

(i)
A wartime portrait photograph in uniform and another portrait taken in later life, wearing his medals; together with newspaper cuttings, including the above quoted post-war article.
(ii)
Three named wartime port passes, including one issued to him as a casualty / passenger in H.M.S. Penelope in April 1942; together with a named commissioning card, as a rating in a Seamen Platoon Section, date stamped 26 June 1944.

(iii)
Three charming letters to Rice, from his old skipper Richard Jessel, dating from the mid-1970s, one including mention of their rescue of Ark Royal's crew:

'Yes, I well remember that sad day when the 'Ark' was lost. I especially remember having to put the Legion alongside. It was a tricky job because her wireless masts were in the down position, and might have wiped Legion's mast. Then, when her list got worse, I had to avoid her port screw making a hole in our bottom. We embarked over 1500 of her crew!'

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Sold for
£190

Starting price
£110