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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 613

A Lisbon Maru casualty's group of three to Lance-Corporal G. W. Spencer, Royal Engineers, who was taken prisoner at the Fall of Hong Kong only to die in the tragic sinking of the prison transport Lisbon-Maru by the U.S.S. Grouper on 1 October 1942

1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45, sold together with a named memorial scroll and Royal Society certificate, good very fine (3)

Geoffery William Spencer was born at Kentish Town on 19 May 1919, the son of Elizabeth and Bertie Spencer, his father was a police officer and had been awarded the Military Medal and King's Police Medal for Gallantry. Enlisting with the Royal Engineers on 28 August 1937 he joined the 40th Fortress Company on 14 December 1938 with the service number '1874667'.

This was one of two Fortress Companies assigned to China Command during the Defence of Hong Kong. They held out for a total of seventeen days before being forced to surrender by relentless Japanese pressure. The survivors included Spencer who was taken on 25 December 1941. Kept on the mainland for some time after Hong Kong fell he was one of those selected for transport to Japan in 1942.

Taken to the prisoner of war transport vessel the S.S. Lisbon Maru, the vessel began a slow progress back to Japan. Conditions aboard the vessel were appalling and a number of men had already died as the vessel crossed the South China Sea. She was not marked as carrying prisoners of war and as such appeared to be a simple troop transport when sighted by the U.S.S. Grouper on the morning of 1 October 1942.

She torpedoed the vessel in the starboard coal bunker, as a response all P.O.W.s were immediately sent below to clear the deck. They were later sealed in while the Japanese troops on board were evacuated leaving only a reduced guard and the ships crew. It soon became clear that the vessel was sinking and the prisoners panicked and torn their way free of the hold.

Several casualties were incurred as they rushed the guards and forced them back leaping off the boat to safety. The men of the Royal Artillery found themselves caught when the ladder into their hold collapsed and they were unable to escape, they were heard singing 'It's a Long Way to Tipperary'. Around 200 men were able to escape the doomed vessel, however 842 perished, Spencer was amongst them. He is commemorated upon the Saiwan Memorial; sold together with copied research comprising casualty rolls, Commonwealth War Graves certificate, attestation card and a BBC article on the Lisbon Maru as well as a named memorial scroll, named Royal Society certificate and photograph signed 'Geoff' as well as a photograph of men in uniform with one figure marked as 'Geoffrey' in black pen.

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Sold for
£320

Starting price
£140