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Auction: 17003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 580

Five: Acting Leading Seaman E. Tambling, Royal Naval Reserve, who, having won a mention in despatches for his gallantry in defending H.M. Trawler Edwardian against enemy aircraft attack off Sheerness in August 1940, was killed in an enemy air raid on Lowestoft in July 1941

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Naval Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (7030C. E. Tambling, L.S., R.N.R.), sold with the recipient's original Admiralty condolence slip in the name of 'Edwin Tambling' and Admiralty forwarding letter for his Long Service award, this addressed to his father and dated 20 January 1942, the documents laminated, extremely fine (5)

Edwin Tambling was born in Looe, Cornwall in March 1907 and entered the Royal Naval Reserve in May 1925. Mobilised on the renewal of hostilities in September 1939 - and having served at the Coastal Forces' establishment Racer at Larne in Co. Antrim - he joined H.M. Trawler Edwardian in February 1940.

He subsequently distinguished himself on the occasion of Edwardian's loss to enemy aircraft attack on 11 August 1940. In his official report, Edwardian's skipper, Lieutenant E. J. C. Edwards, R.N.V.R., stated:

'I have to report the loss of H.M.T. Edwardian and damage to H.M.T. Peter Carey through attack by enemy aircraft.

At approximately 1330 on 11 August 1940 the two ships were at anchor near Hope Buoy. A large number of enemy bombers appeared and attacked. The technique of attack was for the bombers to fly over at 1,500 to 2,000 feet, then form a single line ahead in a straight down dive, coming to within 300 feet of the ship before releasing their bombs. The interval between each plane was about five seconds. The attackers also used machine-gun fire.

During the attack both ships kept up a continuous fire with 12-pounder and Lewis guns; six enemy aircraft were seen to fall into the sea. Of these six the first fell near to, and was probably shot down by, H.M. Destroyer Windsor. The second was shot down by Edwardian's 12-pounder. It is impossible to say definitely who shot down the next three; British fighters had arrived and were attacking, but it is most probable that Edwardian and Peter Carey accounted for two or three. The sixth plane was brought down by our fighters some two miles to the eastward … Peter Carey had no casualties, but the ship is badly damaged.

In Edwardian three were killed and three injured. Names of casualties are rendered in a separate report. The ship was holed aft and rapidly made water. I signalled Peter Carey to tow Edwardian towards the shore in the hopes of beaching her which we eventually did. While proceeding towards the shore a life boat, a motor boat and a drifter, Starlight Rays, appeared on the scene. I sent the wounded to Ramsgate in the lifeboat. The drifter, which drew less water than Edwardian, I made fast alongside Edwardian, thus solving the problem of how to put Edwardian well on to the beach without getting the towing ship ashore. When near the beach Peter Carey let go the tow rope and anchored.

The crew of the motor boat, which was standing by came aboard and helped to transfer ammunition, Lewis guns, rifles, kit and two of the dead to the drifter. The third dead was blown to pieces. Edwardian filled up just as she took the beach, close under the North Foreland L.H., but we managed to get the anchor down with 30 fathoms chain.'

Tambling - who likely manned the Edwardian's 12-pounder - was mentioned in despatches 'For good services in H.M. Trawlers when attacked by enemy aircraft' (London Gazette 4 October 1944, refers).

On 15 July 1941, he joined Europa I, the Royal Naval Patrol Service establishment at Lowestoft. A week later, on the 22nd, he was posted missing, presumed killed, in an air raid. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Lowestoft Naval Memorial, Suffolk and on Looe's War Memorial, Cornwall; sold with copied research.


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Sold for
£250