Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 388

'We were a sitting duck, like an aunt sally at a fairground, not even a machine-gun with which to fire back … '

A Manxman speaks his mind, following the loss of his steam packet ship off Dunkirk.

A Great War and Second World War campaign service group of seven awarded to Leading Seaman A. E. Renyard, Royal Navy, who was wounded aboard the King Orry off Dunkirk in May 1940

The valuable - and gallant - contribution made by a flotilla of Isle of Man steam packet ships in the evacuation of Dunkirk came at great cost, three of them being sunk with heavy loss of life: one of them was the King Orry, which had been requisitioned by the Admiralty as an armed boarding vessel

1914-15 Star (J.17365 A. E. Renyard, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J. 17365 A. E. Renyard, L.S., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (J. 17365 A. E. Renyard, L.S., H.M.S. Excellent), all rhodium plated, good fine and better (7)

Albert Edward Renyard was born in Southampton on 13 November 1894 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in May 1912.

His subsequent seagoing appointments in the Great War comprised the destroyer H.M.S. Paragon (August 1914-June 1916), the destroyer Observer (July-September 1916), and the cruiser Birmingham (February 1917-April 1919). And he was serving as a Leading Seaman at the gunnery establishment Excellent on being awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in January 1928.

Dunkirk

Having then been pensioned ashore in late 1934, Renyard was recalled on the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, in which month he joined the ex-Isle of Man steam packet ship King Orry, which had been requisitioned by the Admiralty for use as an armed boarding vessel. As it transpired, however, and in common with her Isle of Man sister ships, King Orry was quickly enlisted as a transport for Operation "Dynamo".

Under Commander Jeffery Elliott, R.D., R.N.R., she first visited Dunkirk in late May, when she embarked 1,131 troops before casting off for the return trip to Dover in the early hours of the 27th. It was a bumpy ride, for enemy shore batteries at Calais engaged her, hitting her twice and causing casualties, but at length she made port.

King Orry returned to Dunkirk in the late afternoon of the 29th, emerging unscathed from an attack by German dive bombers en route. But as she closed the east pier a heavier and more accurate attack put her steering gear out of action and smashed all the main instruments on her bridge. Notwithstanding such damage and the resultant casualties, she managed to secure alongside the pier where, after darkness fell, it was possible to make temporary repairs.

Nonetheless, there was a risk that King Orry might founder, and she was ordered to clear the harbour and make for the open sea. Departing after midnight, Commander Elliott managed to get the ship clear of the harbour entrance, but she began to list heavily to starboard. Then, at about 0200 hours on the 30th, with her engine room badly flooded, her crew abandoned ship. She sank shortly afterwards.

In the ensuing rescue operations, Jesse Elton, the cook of the 'little ship' Bystander, single-handedly rescued 25 of King Orry's crew, winning himself the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (C.G.M.) in the process.

For his own part - and as verified by his R.N. service record - Renyard was among the wounded. Perhaps it was in consequence of complications caused by these wounds that he was invalided from the R.N.H. Haslar in July 1945.

Postscript

On 29 May 2012, a memorial was unveiled at Kallow Point in Port St. Mary on the Isle of Man. It commemorates the loss of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's vessels King Orry, Mona Queen and Fenella off Dunkirk. The centrepiece of the memorial comprises the starboard anchor of the Mona Queen, which was raised from her wreck on 29 May 2010, the 70th anniversary of her loss.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£160

Starting price
£160