Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 719

The Royal Navy L.S. & G.C. awarded to Chief Stoker J. E. F. Agate, Royal Navy, who was killed in action during the sinking of the battleship Barham in November 1941

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (K.61227 J. E. F. Agate. Ch. Sto. H.M.S. Dauntless.), good very fine

John Edward Frost Agate was born at Richmond, Surrey on 7 March 1905 and enlisted on 9 May 1923 with H.M.S. Courageous as Stoker Class II. He was advanced Stoker Class I in 1924 and Leading Stoker in 1927 with Fisguard. Further promoted Stoker Petty Officer on 6 January 1931, he joined the Battleship Barham on 17 May 1938 as Chief Stoker.

She swiftly transferred to the home fleet upon the outbreak of the Second World War and was torpedoed on 28 December 1939 by U-30 but didn't sink and was able to make it into Birkenhead under her own steam. After being repaired she was deployed to the Mediterranean for Operation Menace, the Battle of Dakar. She targeted the Battleship Richelieu but failed to score any direct hits, taking a shell through her superstructure in exchange.

Barham was in on the action during the Battle of Cape Matapan in 1941, during the action she crippled the destroyer Alfredo Oriani and the heavy cruiser Zara. She was damaged later that year whilst covering the evacuation of Crete and upon being repaired returned to work escorting convoys in the Mediterranean. Leaving Alexandria on 24 November 1941 she was targeted by U-331, the U-boat fired all four torpedo tubes at once and three of the four hit Barham. She capsized to port and four minutes later detonated in a spectacular explosion which saw 862 officers and men killed, including Agate. He is commemorated upon the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£180

Starting price
£60