An Exceptional & Very Rare (Falklands War) South Atlantic Medal.
To:
Submariner, LMA. G. A. Spriggs. D146519T HMS CONQUEROR (Hunter-Killer Nuclear Submarine)
Leading Medical Assistant & Diver.
THE SINKING OF THE ARGENTINIAN LIGHT CRUISER “GENERAL BELGRANO”
Glenn Spriggs who was from Luton in Bedfordshire was aged 24 and serving in Hunter-Killer Nuclear Submarine H.M.S. CONQUEROR when, during the Falklands War, she famously fired three torpedoes, two of which hit and sank the Argentinian Light Cruiser ARA General Belgrano, on 2nd May 1982.
This was a world changing and now famous Royal Navy action that was (and still is) the first time in history that a nuclear submarine attacked and sank an enemy warship in combat. There are many highly detailed internet reports & descriptions available of this famous action which will be very well remembered by all those of us who lived through the period of The Falklands War.
This item is a sheer classic and is one of the finest and most eagerly sought after submariners’ medals ever awarded in the entire history of the British undersea service.
With only 250 South Atlantic medals being awarded to the crewmen & officers of HMS CONQUEROR, this is by far the rarest R.N. campaign medal of them all.
Only a very tiny number of the medals to the crew of HMS Conqueror have ever come to market as they are greatly treasured and much revered by the now ageing recipients and their families, and some will never be sold.
The very few that have become available have been obsessively sought out by serious collectors.
We estimate that less than ten similar medals have ever been sold at public auction in the last 41 years since the date of this world famous action which led to the sinking of the ARA General Belgrano.
I’ve personally only seen three previous examples....and as a comparison I’ve had more than 25 “Trafalgar” Naval General Service Medals over that same period.
One of the previously sold HMS Conqueror South Atlantic medals was part of an exceptional gallantry pair to,
PO (Sonar) G J R Libby, HMS Conqueror who was a friend of Glenn Spriggs and the senior diver who received the Distinguished Service Medal for his great gallantry when he volunteered to dive beneath the hull of Conqueror at night in freezing conditions to remove an aerial cable which had become fouled around the propellers of the submarine.
His DSM & South Atlantic Medal pair brought £55,000 “hammer” ( approx £70,400 with commission ) at auction in September 2019.
If you are a dedicated collector of superb and historically important Royal Navy medals or have a particular interest in awards to submariners, this magnificent South Atlantic Medal will make a wonderful addition to your collection.
Based on virtually zero availability from a total of only 250 medals awarded to the crew of this British Nuclear Submarine, it is highly unlikely that you will ever see another example. If you are the purchaser of this historic medal, I will guarantee that your purchase will go down as one of the best pennies you ever spent.
But...you will have to be very prompt indeed as medals of this calibre sell very quickly to serious collectors in our worldwide audience.
The medal is “mint state as issued” in its original box, with its original ribbon, rosette & pin.
SOLD ...Thank You.
(Quality Part-Exchanges are Welcome)
THE SINKING OF THE ARGENTINIAN LIGHT CRUISER “GENERAL BELGRANO”
Glenn Spriggs who was from Luton in Bedfordshire was aged 24 and serving in Hunter-Killer Nuclear Submarine H.M.S. CONQUEROR when, during the Falklands War, she famously fired three torpedoes, two of which hit and sank the Argentinian Light Cruiser ARA General Belgrano, on 2nd May 1982.
This was a world changing and now famous Royal Navy action that was (and still is) the first time in history that a nuclear submarine attacked and sank an enemy warship in combat. There are many highly detailed internet reports & descriptions available of this famous action which will be very well remembered by all those of us who lived through the period of The Falklands War.
This item is a sheer classic and is one of the finest and most eagerly sought after submariners’ medals ever awarded in the entire history of the British undersea service.
With only 250 South Atlantic medals being awarded to the crewmen & officers of HMS CONQUEROR, this is by far the rarest R.N. campaign medal of them all.
Only a very tiny number of the medals to the crew of HMS Conqueror have ever come to market as they are greatly treasured and much revered by the now ageing recipients and their families, and some will never be sold.
The very few that have become available have been obsessively sought out by serious collectors.
We estimate that less than ten similar medals have ever been sold at public auction in the last 41 years since the date of this world famous action which led to the sinking of the ARA General Belgrano.
I’ve personally only seen three previous examples....and as a comparison I’ve had more than 25 “Trafalgar” Naval General Service Medals over that same period.
One of the previously sold HMS Conqueror South Atlantic medals was part of an exceptional gallantry pair to,
PO (Sonar) G J R Libby, HMS Conqueror who was a friend of Glenn Spriggs and the senior diver who received the Distinguished Service Medal for his great gallantry when he volunteered to dive beneath the hull of Conqueror at night in freezing conditions to remove an aerial cable which had become fouled around the propellers of the submarine.
His DSM & South Atlantic Medal pair brought £55,000 “hammer” ( approx £70,400 with commission ) at auction in September 2019.
If you are a dedicated collector of superb and historically important Royal Navy medals or have a particular interest in awards to submariners, this magnificent South Atlantic Medal will make a wonderful addition to your collection.
Based on virtually zero availability from a total of only 250 medals awarded to the crew of this British Nuclear Submarine, it is highly unlikely that you will ever see another example. If you are the purchaser of this historic medal, I will guarantee that your purchase will go down as one of the best pennies you ever spent.
But...you will have to be very prompt indeed as medals of this calibre sell very quickly to serious collectors in our worldwide audience.
The medal is “mint state as issued” in its original box, with its original ribbon, rosette & pin.
SOLD ...Thank You.
(Quality Part-Exchanges are Welcome)