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Auction: 25113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 532

Nine: Able Seaman B. McDermott, Royal Navy, who served off Korea with the aircraft carrier H.M.A.S. Sydney

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, all officially named '41219 B. McDermott'; Australia Service Medal 1939-45, unnamed; Korea 1950-53 (41219 B. McDermott.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, named '41219 B. McDermott.'; South Korea, Republic, Korea Veteran's Association medal, in its case of issue with corresponding miniature, good very fine (9)

Note the recipient's Second World War campaign medals are impressed correctly in the style used by the Australian Government, it is unclear why they would have been issued in Australia rather than by the Royal Navy, additionally he does not appear entitled to the Australia Service Medal, possibly a representative addition.

Bernard McDermott was born at Earlestown, Britain on 12 September 1924 and enlisted in the Royal Navy on 11 January 1943 with the rank of Ordinary Seaman. Specializing as a Radio Direction Finder on 7 May 1943 he was advanced Able Seaman on 11 January 1944. McDermott was discharged on 17 July 1946 but re-enlisted with the Royal Australian Navy on 11 October 1950.

Posted to the aircraft carrier H.M.A.S. Sydney on 25 October 1950, he was to see service with her off Korea the next year from 31 August 1951. Her service her was to make her the first aircraft carrier owned by a Commonwealth Dominion to see action. Her compliment of Hawker Sea Furies and Fairey Fireflies where used through the next year for ground attack duties.

McDermott left Korea on 22 February 1952 and proceeded to see service in a number of vessels and shore stations including Platypus, Penguin and Vengeance. The last was another aircraft career and while with her he was again posted abroad, travelling to Japan to return No. 77 Squadron R.A.A.F. in October 1954 following to cooling of hostilities. McDermott was invalided as Medically Unfit on 9 May 195; sold together with copied research.

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Estimate

Starting price
£180