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Auction: 22133 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 974

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

Four: Petty Officer Mechanic (Engineering) C. W. Penrose, Royal Navy, who saw submarine service throughout the early years of the Second World War and was later with the Survey vessel Franklin during the D-Day landings

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France & Germany; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (K 929274. C. W. Penrose. P.O. M. (E) H.M.S. Mounts Bay.), mounted as worn, contact marks and edge wear, thus nearly very fine (4)

Charles William Penrose was born at Aberdeen, Scotland on 7 May 1918 and enlisted with the Royal Navy on 4 December 1935 with Pembroke as Stoker Class II. Largely serving aboard minesweepers such as Bagshot and Kellet prior to the outbreak of the Second World War he was again at Pembroke on the outbreak of hostilities.

Posted to H.44 on 12 June 1940, Penrose was promoted Leading Stoker on 19 June 1940 while she was performing war patrols in the North Sea, a few days later H.44 sank the Danish merchantman on 21 June. He served with her until the next year when he was transferred to H.50 on 22 March 1941.

Later posted to the S-1 class submarine P.555- previously an American vessel USS S-24- on 10 August 1942 which was an anti-submarine training ship with the 7th Flotilla being promoted Stoker Petty Officer with her on 12 December 1942. Later posted to Thrasher on 1 July 1943, a T-class submarine service mainly on anti-submarine patrols in the North Sea and around the coast of Norway.

His final posting on submarines was with HMS Trenchant from 17 October 1943- 28 January 1944 before being posted ashore. Penrose saw his last war service with the survey ship Franklin from 16 February 1944, after the war this vessel was used to survey the French coast as it fell to the allied advance after the D-Day landings. After V.E. day she was again deployed on the European coastline in order to survey to any wrecks or minefields that were left after the close of hostilities.

With the end of the war Penrose was soon posted to the Royal Fleet Reserve on 28 August 1949 and was again mobilised on 4 December 1950. Seeing service on vessels such as Sharpshooter and Shackleton he was again demobilised on 5 February 1954.

Returning to service at Pembroke on 1 June 1954 as Stoker Mechanic Penrose returned to the rank of Petty Officer Stoker Mechanic on 3 June. He was awarded his L.S. & G.C. with the minesweeper H.M.S. Mounts Bay on 28 September 1955 as Petty Officer Mechanic (Engineering). Penrose was finally demobilised on 15 October 1958.

Sold together with an original archive comprising:

(i)
A typed summary of the recipient's career, written by his Nephew.

(ii)
A photograph of the recipient with a several other naval officers at the Spread Eagle, Lowestoft, Suffolk.

(iii)
The recipient's original certificate of service.

(iv)
History Sheet for Stoker Ratings.

(v)
Certificate of Engineering Experience.

(vi)
Passing Certificate for Stoker Petty Officer.

(vii)
several extracts relating to the vessels the recipient served aboard.

(viii)
A Kreigsmarine Sports Vest Insignia, taken as a trophy and annotated with the name 'H.M.S. Franklin' and a list of ports cleared.

(ix)
Photograph of H.M.S. Mounts Bay.

(x)
A copied tribute to the submariners by Winston Churchill.

(xi)
Pre-embarkation SHAEF leaflet to the Allied Expeditionary Force.

(xii)
A copy of Deutschland Erwacht, taken as a souvenir from Kiel after the German Surrender.

(xiii)
A memory stick containing pictures from the above.

(xiv)
Two Machinery Handbooks used by the recipient in his training as Petty Officer Stoker, one missing its cover.

For the medals of his Nephew, Lieutenant-Colonel A. Petrie, please see Lot: xxx. For the medals of his family friend and comrade, Petty Officer T. L. Whiteman, please see Lot xxx.

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

Sold for
£150

Starting price
£70