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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 561

The campaign group of three awarded to Leading Stoker R. F. Godfree, H.M.S. Tamar, Royal Navy, who having been taken a Prisoner of War at the Fall of Hong Kong, died whilst being transported to Japan during the ill-fated disaster of the loss of the Lisbon Maru

1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45, with Admiralty Condolence slip in the name of 'Ronald Frank Godfree', confirming '3' awards and in box of issue, this lacking labels, extremely fine (3)

Ronald Frank Godfree was born on 7 October 1916 at Marden, Maidstone, Kent, the son of John and Dorothy Godfree, who lived at Beechin House (recorded as 'Beach House' on his Japanese P.O.W. card). Having served at Hong Kong on Tamar, Godfree went 'in the bag' at the Fall of Singapore and into captivity and would have endured shocking treatment at the hands of his captors. Kept on the mainland for some time after Hong Kong fell, he was one of those selected for transport to Japan in 1942.

Taken to the prisoner of war transport vessel the S.S. Lisbon Maru, the vessel began a slow progress back to Japan. Conditions aboard the vessel were appalling and a number of men had already died as the vessel crossed the South China Sea. She was not marked as carrying prisoners of war and as such appeared to be a simple troop transport when sighted by the U.S.S. Grouper on the morning of 1 October 1942.

She torpedoed the vessel in the starboard coal bunker, as a response all P.O.W.s were immediately sent below to clear the deck. They were later sealed in while the Japanese troops on board were evacuated leaving only a reduced guard and the ships crew. It soon became clear that the vessel was sinking and the prisoners panicked and tore their way free of the hold.

Several casualties were incurred as they rushed the guards and forced them back leaping off the boat to safety. The men of the Royal Artillery found themselves caught when the ladder into their hold collapsed and they were unable to escape, they were heard singing 'It's a Long Way to Tipperary'. While around 200 men were able to escape the doomed vessel, 842 perished, with Godfree amongst them. He is commemorated upon the Chatham Naval Memorial and was just 25 years of age.

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Sold for
£350

Starting price
£130