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Auction: 26002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 169

The 1975 B.E.M. group of ten awarded to Petty Officer Telegraphist J. Gregory, Royal Navy, who survived the sinking of the Norwegian destroyer Eskdale before serving in a number of Arctic Convoys with Beagle

British Empire Medal, E.II.R. (C.R.S. John Gregory, J146433Y.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Arctic Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (J146433 J. Gregory. C.P.O. Tel. H.M.S. President.); Norway, Kingdom, War Medal; Haakon VII 70th Anniversary Medal; Russia, Soviet Republic, Medal for the 40th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45, mounted as worn, good very fine (10)

B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1975.

King Haakon VII 70th Anniversary Medal, the recipient's service papers refer, 28 January 1944.

John Gregory was born at Crediton, Devon on 3 March 1920 and enlisted on 21 October 1935, being first posted to the shore base St. Vincent as Boy Class II. His first posting afloat was with the light cruiser Newcastle as a Boy Telegrapher and he reached his majority with her on 31 May 1938.

The outbreak of the Second World War saw Gregory borne on the book of the Hong Kong shore base Tamar while serving with the destroyer Decoy. She had been stationed in the Far East before the war but began the conflict in the Mediterranean, as such Gregory soon switched to the books of St. Angelo whilst still with the ship. Decoy saw heavy action during this period, including bombarding Bardia and aiding in the sinking of the submarines Argonauta and Console Generale Liuzzi. Seeing action at the Battle of Calabria she was damaged by a shell splinter but continued to serve on Convoys to Malta and in various other engagements.

Briefly transferring to the destroyer Hotspur he saw further action in the Mediterranean before joining Eskdale on 24 July 1942. This was a British built destroyer that had been transferred to the Norwegian Forces in Exile the month prior, it is doubtless due to his service with this vessel that Gregory was granted his Norwegian medal.

With her he took part in the Arctic Convoy PQ18 for the initial leg of the journey, leaving them at Iceland. They were to see more intense action in October 1942 when the ship was part of a destroyer Flotilla which sank the commerce raider Komet and four torpedo boats. Gregory was advanced Petty Officer Telegraphist with her in November that same year. Eskdale again took part in a raid on a German convoy off Dieppe in December, sinking a German minesweeper but suffering damage at the same time.

Joining the convoy PW 323 on 14 April 1943 she was off Lizard Head when seven German E-Boats swept down on them. Eskdale and the other escort Glaisdale moved to protect the convoy but the numerous and well-equipped enemy were too much for them to handle. Torpedoes from S90, S65 and S121 caught Eskdale, sinking her with the loss of 25 hands, the rest of the enemy slipped through and sank the merchantman Stanlake.

Fortunately Gregory survived the sinking, after a period ashore he was posted to the destroyer Beagle on 26 May 1943. She served on Arctic convoys from December 1943, seeing service on JW 51A, RA51, JW 52 and JW58 in the final convoy she aided in the sinking of U-355. Returning to Britain she was part of the Naval support for Operation Overlord and continued to operate in the channel, claiming two JU 88 bombers shot down in June.

His final wartime service was with Venus which transferred to the Eastern Fleet however the war soon ended and after the surrender of the Japanese Army at Singapore she returned to Britain.

Gregory continued to serve, being appointed Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist whilst service at the Kyanii Wireless Station on 1 September 1950. He was finally shore pensioned on 2 March 1960; sold together with copied service papers.

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Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£480