Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 764

'The raid had reached its peak when, suddenly, a squadron of 12 Stukas appeared, high in the sky over Indomitable. Fighters were after them, and a hurricane of flak went up from all sides, as one after another they peeled off at 12,000ft and dived on the ship. The 1000-pounders rained down in a concentrated onslaught, and in a moment she had vanished behind a dense geyser of spray. Two, three, were hit and plunged across the sky into the sea; but Indomitable was hit too. Smoke and steam billowed up above the wall of water; and for a quarter of a minute it seemed as if she could never re-appear except as a smoking hulk. Then, slowly, as the mass of water heaved up by the near-misses subsided, she emerged, listing, on fire fore and aft, nearly stopped, but still afloat.

From every ship men watched her anxiously; isolated from the disaster, yet sharing in it, impotent to hep yet suffering the wound as if it were to their own ship and their friends. For twenty minutes she dragged in a slow circle, her deck heeling and the smoke pouring from her. Then she began to right, and the smoke that seemed to issue from the lifts lost its density and thinned into a wisp; a signal lamp blinked: "SITUATION IN HAND", and she steadied on course … '

The remarkable survival of the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Indomitable in Operation "Pedestal" in August 1942; Sea Flight, by Hugh Popham, refers.

The Royal Navy L.S. & G.C. Medal awarded to Chief Petty Officer Air Fitter J. H. Lepper, Royal Navy, who saw action in the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Indomitable in Operation "Pedestal"

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (F. 55011 J. H. Lepper, C.P.O.A.F. (A.), H.M.S. Heron), naming officially corrected in places, good very fine

James Herbert Lepper was born at Chatham, Kent on 22 January 1907 and joined the Fleet Air Arm as a Petty Officer Air Fitter direct from the Royal Air Force in December 1938.

On the outbreak of hostilities, he was serving at R.N.A.S. Raven and, having been advanced to Chief Petty Officer Air Fitter, he joined the strength of No. 880 Squadron at R.N.A.S. Sparrowhawk in August 1941. It was in this capacity that he was embarked in the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Indomitable in October of the same year, and he remained likewise employed until the end of August 1942.

He was consequently present in the carrier's part in the Far Eastern operations of 1941-42 but his most memorable tour of duty was in the Mediterranean, when Indomitable played a major role in Operation "Pedestal" in August 1942.

During the operation Indomitable was hit by two 500kg bombs and suffered numerous near misses. One of the 500kg bombs penetrated the flight deck. Resultant casualties amounted to six officers and 40 ratings killed, and 70 ratings wounded, and Lepper may have been among the latter, for he departed the ship on 28 August 1942.

For a telling account of Indomitable's trials and tribulations in "Pedestal", see:

https://www.armouredcarriers.com/battle-damage-to-hms-indomitable

Post-war, Lepper was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in January 1947, and he was invalided ashore in June 1949. He died in Southampton in October 1960.

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

Sold for
£150

Starting price
£60