An Exceptional “MURMANSK CONVOYS” (ATLANTIC & ARCTIC STAR) “U-BOAT TORPEDO” 
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS.
Group of Eight, inc Thames Nautical Training College Medal (HMS WORCESTER)
To:
Lt Cdr G.BUTCHER. R.N.V.R.
With Father’s WW1 VRD group of five.
[DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS]
“Murmansk Convoys” 3rd May 1942.
(Investiture 7th December 1943)
TEMP LT GRAHAM BUTCHER, R.N.V.R.
[CITATION]
London Gazette: 25th August 1942.
“For Distinguished Service in H.M.ships (Captain, HMS St Elstan) in taking Convoys to and from Murmansk, through the dangers of ice and heavy seas and in the face of relentless attacks by enemy U-Boats, aircraft, and surface forces”.
[THE MEDALS]
Distinguished Service Cross (1942)
1939-45 Star
Atlantic Star (France & Germany Clasp)
*Arctic Star
Defence Medal
War Medal
(With “original” WW2 Miniature set of five)
Thames Nautical Training College Medal (G.BUTCHER) & Six HMS WORCESTER Brass Buttons.
*THE ARCTIC STAR is a very rare and seldom seen original which comes in its officially named box with the issue slip. It was generously claimed by the family to make this amazing group totally complete for posterity.
[BIOGRAPHY] GRAHAM BUTCHER. 1909-1981 (72)
Graham Butcher was born at Hove, East Sussex on 8th July 1909 into a Naval family. He was the son WW1 Paymaster Lt Edwin Percy Butcher R.N. V.R.D. who’s medals we also offer here, & Mrs Gertrude Butcher (nee Graham).
Graham Butcher’s distinguished career at sea reads like something out of a naval action novel. Starting in the early 1920’s as a cadet with The Royal Mail Steamer Co, with whom he completed several voyages to Argentina, The River Plate & Brazil. He was however “laid off” in 1923 due to lack of work in the period after the Great War.
He was then granted entry into the RNVR as a Midshipman with seniority from 1st September 1926. (Admiralty Commissioner’s letter of 24th April 1927 confirms). He attained his 2nd Mate’s “Foreign Going Steamship” Certificate of Competency (No.27189) on 21st November 1929. Being a very competent young officer, he rose quickly through the commissioned ranks of the RNVR with an appointment as Acting Sub Lt on 8th July 1930, Temporary Lt on 9th October 1939 and promotion to Temporary Acting Lt Cdr. in October 1943.
He was initially employed in the anti-submarine area of naval warfare with his initial captaincy being that of HMS LORD AUSTIN an anti-submarine warfare trawler. ....He later commanded several major front line operational ships, including frigates & corvettes during the second world war from 1939 to 1945 with exemplary service in the Arctic Convoys which at very great risk and peril ran the Nazi gauntlet to deliver war provisions to the port of Murmansk in Russia.
While in command of HMS Denbigh Castle, a Corvette on her first Convoy Duty to Murmansk, Russia, (Convoy Number JW64) the ship was torpedoed by an enemy U-Boat (U-992) on 13th February 1945 and was lost with eleven crew members killed. Apparently Graham Butcher was only himself saved when a crew member saw his unusual brown (non-regulation) shoes pop up feet first from the water !
[DOCUMENT LIST]
(INCLUDING RARE “SECRET” R.N. WW2 ORDERS)
The group comes with THE most complete set of surviving maritime documentation we have ever seen. It’s a staggering collection which runs to over 25 documents including original R.N. Commission Scroll, several Personal Photo Identification items such as his R.N.R Training Certificate Book, Certificate of competency (2nd Mate, Steamship), 21st Nov’1929,
Mercantile Marine continuous certificate of discharge, 7th Dec’ 1929, his RNR I.D. Card & other service membership books. Even his Argentinian Seaman’s Identity Book (21st May 1927) which records his early South American voyages is here.
This is a wonderful & historically important document archive of over 25 papers, certificates and other naval papers which record in great detail the entire Merchant Marine & Royal Navy career of LtCdr Graham Butcher from his earliest days in the 1920’s as a cadet trainee in HMS WORCESTER, through his short early career with The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company and onward via his greatly distinguished career throughout World War Two in anti-submarine vessels & Arctic convoy protection ships with the Royal Navy volunteer reserve.
There is also a surviving set of ultra rare “SECRET” operational movement instructions which are the Sailing & Routing Orders for the voyage of HMS Loch Tarbert which took place only three weeks before the end of the war on 15th April 1945, which by stated regulation & printed instruction should have been “destroyed by fire” after completion of the orders, in case they should fall into enemy hands.
Clearly at this late stage of the war and there being no chance of enemy capture, LtCdr Butcher retained these secret papers as a souvenir of his service.
Also included are two reduced size Harland & Wolf of Belfast design blueprints for R.N. twin screw frigates which are also marked “Secret”.
Graham Butcher was a keen amateur artist and also included are several of his pen & ink drawings.
Graham Butcher died on 7th January 1981 at Brighton General Hospital of an Aortic aneurism. He was 72.
[BIOGRAPHY] EDWIN PERCY BUTCHER
Paymaster Lt Edwin Percy Butcher R.N. V.R.D.
[THE MEDALS]
War Medal (1914-1918)
Victory Medal
Coronation Medal 1937
Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve Decoration
Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve L.S.G.C.
(With Associated Miniatures)
Also with the papers are wartime dated envelopes sent between father Edwin Butcher in Hove and Graham Butcher while in various ships at Sea. Of particular interest is one which was sent to Graham Butcher while the captain of HMS DENBIGH CASTLE on 16th February 1945 that was redirected to “C.W. BRANCH, ADMIRALRY, LONDON after the loss of his ship at Murmansk.
[SUMMARY]
This is an historically important father & son R.N. family assembly of the greatest documentary completeness. If you collect only the very best medals, this is a must have & unique grouping.
Also included is the R.N.X.S. Long Service medal to Mrs Rhoda May Butcher the wife of Commander Graham Butcher. (Very Rare to a Woman)
NEW TO MARKET & NEVER OFFERED BEFORE.
£7750 with quality part exchanges welcome ... Call us on 01342-870926
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS.
Group of Eight, inc Thames Nautical Training College Medal (HMS WORCESTER)
To:
Lt Cdr G.BUTCHER. R.N.V.R.
With Father’s WW1 VRD group of five.
[DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS]
“Murmansk Convoys” 3rd May 1942.
(Investiture 7th December 1943)
TEMP LT GRAHAM BUTCHER, R.N.V.R.
[CITATION]
London Gazette: 25th August 1942.
“For Distinguished Service in H.M.ships (Captain, HMS St Elstan) in taking Convoys to and from Murmansk, through the dangers of ice and heavy seas and in the face of relentless attacks by enemy U-Boats, aircraft, and surface forces”.
[THE MEDALS]
Distinguished Service Cross (1942)
1939-45 Star
Atlantic Star (France & Germany Clasp)
*Arctic Star
Defence Medal
War Medal
(With “original” WW2 Miniature set of five)
Thames Nautical Training College Medal (G.BUTCHER) & Six HMS WORCESTER Brass Buttons.
*THE ARCTIC STAR is a very rare and seldom seen original which comes in its officially named box with the issue slip. It was generously claimed by the family to make this amazing group totally complete for posterity.
[BIOGRAPHY] GRAHAM BUTCHER. 1909-1981 (72)
Graham Butcher was born at Hove, East Sussex on 8th July 1909 into a Naval family. He was the son WW1 Paymaster Lt Edwin Percy Butcher R.N. V.R.D. who’s medals we also offer here, & Mrs Gertrude Butcher (nee Graham).
Graham Butcher’s distinguished career at sea reads like something out of a naval action novel. Starting in the early 1920’s as a cadet with The Royal Mail Steamer Co, with whom he completed several voyages to Argentina, The River Plate & Brazil. He was however “laid off” in 1923 due to lack of work in the period after the Great War.
He was then granted entry into the RNVR as a Midshipman with seniority from 1st September 1926. (Admiralty Commissioner’s letter of 24th April 1927 confirms). He attained his 2nd Mate’s “Foreign Going Steamship” Certificate of Competency (No.27189) on 21st November 1929. Being a very competent young officer, he rose quickly through the commissioned ranks of the RNVR with an appointment as Acting Sub Lt on 8th July 1930, Temporary Lt on 9th October 1939 and promotion to Temporary Acting Lt Cdr. in October 1943.
He was initially employed in the anti-submarine area of naval warfare with his initial captaincy being that of HMS LORD AUSTIN an anti-submarine warfare trawler. ....He later commanded several major front line operational ships, including frigates & corvettes during the second world war from 1939 to 1945 with exemplary service in the Arctic Convoys which at very great risk and peril ran the Nazi gauntlet to deliver war provisions to the port of Murmansk in Russia.
While in command of HMS Denbigh Castle, a Corvette on her first Convoy Duty to Murmansk, Russia, (Convoy Number JW64) the ship was torpedoed by an enemy U-Boat (U-992) on 13th February 1945 and was lost with eleven crew members killed. Apparently Graham Butcher was only himself saved when a crew member saw his unusual brown (non-regulation) shoes pop up feet first from the water !
[DOCUMENT LIST]
(INCLUDING RARE “SECRET” R.N. WW2 ORDERS)
The group comes with THE most complete set of surviving maritime documentation we have ever seen. It’s a staggering collection which runs to over 25 documents including original R.N. Commission Scroll, several Personal Photo Identification items such as his R.N.R Training Certificate Book, Certificate of competency (2nd Mate, Steamship), 21st Nov’1929,
Mercantile Marine continuous certificate of discharge, 7th Dec’ 1929, his RNR I.D. Card & other service membership books. Even his Argentinian Seaman’s Identity Book (21st May 1927) which records his early South American voyages is here.
This is a wonderful & historically important document archive of over 25 papers, certificates and other naval papers which record in great detail the entire Merchant Marine & Royal Navy career of LtCdr Graham Butcher from his earliest days in the 1920’s as a cadet trainee in HMS WORCESTER, through his short early career with The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company and onward via his greatly distinguished career throughout World War Two in anti-submarine vessels & Arctic convoy protection ships with the Royal Navy volunteer reserve.
There is also a surviving set of ultra rare “SECRET” operational movement instructions which are the Sailing & Routing Orders for the voyage of HMS Loch Tarbert which took place only three weeks before the end of the war on 15th April 1945, which by stated regulation & printed instruction should have been “destroyed by fire” after completion of the orders, in case they should fall into enemy hands.
Clearly at this late stage of the war and there being no chance of enemy capture, LtCdr Butcher retained these secret papers as a souvenir of his service.
Also included are two reduced size Harland & Wolf of Belfast design blueprints for R.N. twin screw frigates which are also marked “Secret”.
Graham Butcher was a keen amateur artist and also included are several of his pen & ink drawings.
Graham Butcher died on 7th January 1981 at Brighton General Hospital of an Aortic aneurism. He was 72.
[BIOGRAPHY] EDWIN PERCY BUTCHER
Paymaster Lt Edwin Percy Butcher R.N. V.R.D.
[THE MEDALS]
War Medal (1914-1918)
Victory Medal
Coronation Medal 1937
Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve Decoration
Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve L.S.G.C.
(With Associated Miniatures)
Also with the papers are wartime dated envelopes sent between father Edwin Butcher in Hove and Graham Butcher while in various ships at Sea. Of particular interest is one which was sent to Graham Butcher while the captain of HMS DENBIGH CASTLE on 16th February 1945 that was redirected to “C.W. BRANCH, ADMIRALRY, LONDON after the loss of his ship at Murmansk.
[SUMMARY]
This is an historically important father & son R.N. family assembly of the greatest documentary completeness. If you collect only the very best medals, this is a must have & unique grouping.
Also included is the R.N.X.S. Long Service medal to Mrs Rhoda May Butcher the wife of Commander Graham Butcher. (Very Rare to a Woman)
NEW TO MARKET & NEVER OFFERED BEFORE.
£7750 with quality part exchanges welcome ... Call us on 01342-870926