An Excellent & Historic
HMS ONSLOW
'Battle of the Barents Sea'
( M.I.D. for Bravery in Northern Waters)
in a
VICTORIA CROSS ACTION
& Later
BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL.
Atlantic Star (France & Germany) Africa (Africa 1942-43) L.S.G.C.
Group of Six.
(Also now entitled to The Arctic Star and Russian Convoy Medal)
To:
D/MX.51427. C.E.A. GEORGE HARRY FREEMAN PICKERING. R.N.
This is a lovely item of great historical importance to those of you who have interest in
The Arctic Convoy period during WW2.
CONVOY JW 51B
Convoy JW 51B was an Arctic convoy sent from United Kingdom by the Western Allies to aid the Soviet Union during World War II. It sailed in late December 1942, reaching the Soviet northern port of Kola Inlet in early January 1943 after what became known as The Battle of The Barents Sea on 31st December 1942 (New Years Eve).
The Battle of the Barents Sea took place between warships of the German Navy and British ships escorting convoy JW 51B to Kola Inlet in the USSR. The action took place in the Barents Sea north of North Cape, Norway. The German raiders' failure to inflict any losses on the convoy infuriated Hitler, who ordered that German naval strategy would focus on the U-boat fleet rather than surface ships.
JW 51B came under attack by German surface units, engaged in Operation Regenbogen, on 31 December. In the clash that ensued, one defending minesweeper and one attacking destroyer were sunk with all hands and a defending destroyer was sunk.
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HMS ONSLOW.Attached to the Home Fleet, Onslow served mostly as an escort to Arctic convoys. She also saw detached service in the Mediterranean during "Operation Harpoon" in 1942, and in the English Channel before and after the Normandy landings in mid-1944. ((((( Her most notable action was at the Battle of the Barents Sea in 1942, while escorting Convoy JW 51B to Russia.)))) The convoy escorts held off attacks from the powerful German cruiser Admiral Hipper, with Onslow being heavily damaged and her captain, Robert Sherbrooke, severely injured.
HMS ONSLOW Engaged German cruiser HIPPER with HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD,
HM Destroyers
OBEDIENT, OBDURATE, ORWELL and ACHATES in defence of Convoy.
Sustained major damage and many casualties including 17 killed.
Commanding officer, Captain Sherbrooke who lost an eye on the bridge from shelling, received a Victoria Cross for his gallant conduct. George Pickering was in charge of the Engine Room of HMS ONSLOW during the attack.
Comes with copies of LG for MID & BEM for George Pickering
& Copies of Official VC papers for Captain Sherbrooke.
Medals superbly court mounted as worn. This is a truly lovely group of medals the like of which rarely show up. A navy collectors dream.
£SOLD