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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 291

'A young man who was on ships in the Mediterranean that were attacked by German dive-bombers, and on one that was sunk, and who was photographed with Ann Sheridan in Hollywood, has been spending a short leave in Durham.

He is 1st Class Stoker John Adamson, of Oak Avenue, Sherburn Road, Durham, the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Adamson. For two and a half years he has been with the Fleet, and was formerly a porter at Durham County Hospital.

Jack was in the battle of Matapan and the battle of Crete and has served in H.M.S. Southampton and Warspite. He was on the Warspite when Tripoli Harbour was attacked and again when half the Italian Fleet was sunk.

He will not soon forget his memorable stay in Hollywood, where he met many of the film stars who gave the sailor boys a great time. "Now," he said, "I am in my home town of Durham, which I consider is the most beautiful city in the world." Good luck, Jack and happy sailing!'

A wartime Durham newspaper report, circa 1942, refers.

A well-documented Second World War campaign group of seven awarded to Stoker 1st Class J. Adamson, Royal Navy

A survivor of the loss of the cruiser H.M.S. Southampton on the Malta run - and severe bomb damage inflicted on the battleship Warspite off Crete in May 1941 - he enjoyed a well-merited spot of leave in the U.S.A., where he met a string of Hollywood stars at Universal Pictures

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, good very fine (7)

Jack Adamson entered the Royal Navy around the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939, direct from his duties as a porter at Durham County Hospital. Having then attended the training establishment Royal Arthur at Skegness in Lincolnshire, he saw considerable action in the Mediterranean.

As confirmed by the above cited newspaper report, those services were enacted in the cruiser H.M.S. Southampton and the battleship H.M.S. Warspite. The reference to one of his ships having been sunk refers, beyond doubt, to the Southampton.

Malta run - loss of H.M.S. Southampton

In the early afternoon of 11 January 1941, south-east of Malta - during Operation "Excess" - she and her consort Gloucester came under attack from 12 Ju. 88s, Southampton taking two direct hits. The resultant blaze rapidly spread from bow to stern and, heavily damaged and without power, she was abandoned and scuttled, and later dispatched by torpedoes delivered by the Orion. Her crew suffered a loss of 81 fatalities and her survivors, Adamson among them, were picked up by the Gloucester.

H.M.S. Warspite - Matapan and Crete

It is also apparent from the above cited newspaper article that Adamson next joined the battleship Warspite. He was consequently present at the battle of Matapan in March 1941, when, alerted by intelligence from Bletchley Park, Admiral Cunningham took his fleet to sea in pursuit of the Italian Fleet.

That pursuit ended on the 28th, when Warspite, Valiant and Barham closed on the unsuspecting Italian fleet and, aided by searchlights, destroyed the heavy cruisers Fiume and Zara, and two enemy destroyers. The battle of Matapan - as it became known - dealt a severe blow to the operational confidence of the Regia Marina, although Warspite's subsequent attack on Tripoli was less effective.

In May 1941, Adamson and his shipmates were called upon to assist at the evacuation of Crete, one of the mostly costly operations in the history of the Royal Navy. On that occasion, Warspite was employed as a floating anti-aircraft battery and, in common with many of her consorts, suffered severe damage from enemy air attacks on the 22nd. She was hit by a 500lb. bomb which ripped open the ship's side, disabled her starboard batteries, and killed 38 officers and ratings.

Managing to make Alexandria under her own steam, Warspite underwent temporary repairs, prior to her departure to Bremerton on the west coast of the United States in July 1941, where a lengthy refit was undertaken.

Starstruck in Hollywood

Here, then, another episode referred to in the above cited newspaper article, namely a well-earned period of rest and an officially sanctioned outing to meet Hollywood's film stars. The accompanying archive of related - original - press photographs feature Adamson meeting the likes of Cary Grant, Ann Sheridan, Hedy Lamarr, Betty Field and Abbot & Costello, among others.

Postscript

Judging by Warspite's subsequent operational career - and Adamson's entitlement to the Burma and Italy Stars - it seems likely he re-joined her after her refit. Hence further operations in the Indian Ocean 1942-43, and at the Sicily and Salerno landings.

Sold with the following original documentation and photographs:

(i)
A fine array of publicity photographs taken at the Universal Pictures studios, Hollywood, featuring the recipient and his shipmates meeting the stars, together with two photographs taken at 'Florentine Gardens, Hollywood', these in decorated covers, with autographed mounts.

(ii)
The recipient's wartime photograph album, with gilt 'H.M.S. Warspite' cover title, and containing approximately 60 images, mainly of naval interest but also including further Hollywood scenes, among them signed portraits of Victor Carreiro, the Hollywood photographer, dedicated to 'My dear friend, Jack Adamson'; together with a quantity of pasted-down theatre tickets, newspaper cuttings, etc.

(iii)
An H.M.S. Southampton Christmas card, to the recipient's mother, and a 21st Birthday card, from his mother.

(iv)
An illuminated 'Welcome Home' certificate from the Citizens of Durham, in the name of 'Jack Adamson' of '7 Oak Avenue, Sherburn Road, Durham', signed by the Mayor.

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Sold for
£270

Starting price
£130