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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 256

(x) Family group:

The fine 'Battle of Crete' group of ten awarded to Petty Officer P. R. Fair, Royal Navy, who served aboard H.M.S. Naiad in the Eastern Mediterranean and recorded every detail of his service in a pocket-diary and in photographs

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, clasp, South Africa 1942-43; War Medal 1939-45; Naval General Service 1915-62, 3 clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Minesweeping 1945-51, Malaya (C/JX. 152845 P. R. Fair. P.O. R.N.); Korea 1950-53 (C/JX. 152845. P. R. Fair. P.O. R.N.); UN Korea; Naval L.S. & G.C. (JX. 152845. P. R. Fair. P.O. H.M.S. Leeds Castle); Malta 50th Anniversary Commemorative Medal 1992, unnamed as issued; Korean War 40th Anniversary Commemorative Medal; Greek War Star 1941-45, bronze, mounted court-style, the last two separate, very fine (10)

Six: Petty Officer D. M. Fair, Royal Navy

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Malaya (C/JX 965 D.M.Fair. P.O. R.N.), mounted court-style, very fine (6)



Peter Robert Fair was born on 15 October 1921 at Gillingham, Kent. Educated at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, he excelled at Seamanship and Signals. Appointed Boy 2nd Class at the training establishment Ganges on 26 April 1937, he transferred to Liverpool on 9 November 1938 and was promoted Ordinary Seaman on 15 April 1939. He served as an Able Seaman aboard Naiad from 2 July 1940-9 January 1942, taking part in the Battle of Crete and convoy escort duties to and from Malta and in the North Atlantic. Fair recorded his services aboard Naiad in a remarkable pocket diary, which sheds light on the sinking of Naiad and Grove off Crete. It also records the advance of the 8th Army west of Tripoli, the capture of the first German U-boat in the Mediterranean, and contains important photographs of the sinking of H.M.S. Juno. The diary entry for 8 May 1941 offers a good insight as to the vulnerability of surface ships to aerial attack:

'At sea sighted torpedo bombers. They came in for an attack and we thought that it was the end but we drove them off with a few rounds of gun fire. Thank God.'

Appointed Leading Seaman aboard Nimrod from 11 September 1943, Fair concluded the war as a Temporary Petty Officer aboard Osprey. He went on to serve aboard Jasseur and Cossack during the 1950-53 Korean War, his specialist knowledge and experience likely remaining invaluable to the service. In 1956 he became an Anti-Submarine Instructor, while on 7 December 1959 he was appointed Minesweeping Instructor to the London Division of the Royal Naval Reserve.

Fair ended his career as Chief Petty Officer aboard Leeds Castle, and was shore-pensioned on 14 October 1961, his character consistently recorded as 'very good'. In retirement he lived at 10 Victoria Street, Gillingham, and was a stalwart member of the H.M.S. Naiad Association.

Sold with a superb archive of original documents and ephemera, including:

(i)
The recipient's pocket-sized 'Free French' diary, detailing his wartime service; also his original cloth-bound naval service records.

(ii)
An official card (Form S.280) issued to P. Fair, H.M.S. Naiad, showing his mess number, Watch name and number, kit locker number, fighting stations, and the names of his officers and mess mates.

(iii)
The recipient's school certificates and exam transcripts from the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook. Also his birth certificate and copy of The New Testament.

(iv)
A large quantity of black-and-white photographs showing Peter Fair and his brother Donald at various stages of their naval careers, from early days at R.H.S. Holbrook to reunion dinners in old age. Eleven images of H.M.S. Naiad are stamped on the reverse: 'Passed by Censor and Not to be Published'. Three of these pictures show captured German prisoners, possibly from the first German U-boat captured in the theatre.

Donald Macfarlane Fair was born on 20 October 1920. He attended the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook with his brother Peter and died at Istanbul in 1973.

(v)
A further Korean War 40th Anniversary Commemorative Medal, this one 45mm, struck in silver, unmounted, in fitted box of issue, extremely fine

(vi)
The recipient's silver cigarette case, the obverse bearing the initials 'P. R. F.'


Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£650

Starting price
£320