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Auction: 21103 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction 4
Lot: 215

Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-19 (William Buckley), good very fine

William Albert Buckley was born at Rochdale, Lancashire on 10 March 1879. He served in the Merchant Marine during both First and Second World Wars. In August 1940 Buckley was an Able Seaman aboard the S.S. Empire Merlin part of convoy HX-65A running past the Flannan Isles, Scotland. However the convoy was being stalk by U-48 commanded by Captain Hans Rudolf Rosing. On 25 August the U-boat attacked, striking Empire Merlin amidships with a torpedo, unfortunately the cargo of sulphur caught fire and the stern broke away. The ship sank before the lifeboats could be launched with the loss of 35 of its 36 crew including it Master David Simpson M.B.E. who was 69 years old at the time of the attack. Only Ordinary Seaman John Lee survived, clinging to a potato locker for 45 minutes before being picked up by H.M.S. Godetia. Buckley was killed in the attack and is commemorated on the Tower Hill memorial.

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Sold for
£45

Starting price
£20