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Auction: 23113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 495

Three: Able Seaman R. K. Coate, Royal Navy, who was killed in action aboard Port Victor, when she was torpedoed by U-107, when some 600 miles South West of Ireland

1939-1945 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, sold together with an impressive archive of original material extremely fine (Lot)

Raymond Kenneth Coate was born on 28 May 1921 at Wood Green, London. He was and worked as a Clerk prior to enlisting which he did on 25 August 1941, serving on Glendower, Wellesley and President III. Posted as a D.E.M.S. gunner on M.V. Port Victor he was killed as a result of being torpedoed on 30 April 1943, and was the son of William Charles Edwin and Annie Maud Coate, of Barnet, Hertfordshire, and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

PORT VICTOR

Port Victor was completed by Swan Hunter in October 1942. Her first voyage was to New Zealand and back. She then went to Buenos Aires and her return was to Liverpool leaving on 14 April 1943, containing 7600 tons of refrigerated goods and 2000 tons of general items, along with 65 passengers, half of whom were women and children. On 30 April 1943, while travelling independently, and being some 600 miles S.W. of Ireland, she was torpedoed in the engineroom, port side, at 8.34 p.m, by U-107, commanded by Harald Gelhaus. All lights failed. Engines continued to turn though covered by water, until the Chief Engineer cut off the fuel supply by remote control from the upper deck. The Engineer Officer on watch was killed. Of her eight boats two were destroyed by this explosion; passengers and crew, with commendable coolness, embarked in the remainder. Lowering began as soon as way was off the ship. About seven minutes after the first a second torpedo holed No.2 and blew up No.2 boat, killing four persons (two of them women) and injured several others. Ten minutes later a third torpedo struck abreast No.4 blowing up No.8 boat and killing eleven men. Meanwhile all starboard boats had got away safely. As the ship was now settling fast, the few remaining on board leaped into the water and swam to No.3 boat. The submarine surfaced near No.1 boat and a German officer questioned the occupants. He indicated his pleasure at sinking a cargo of foodstuffs and then unexpectedly showed some concern for the women folk, apologising that there was no room for survivors on the submarine. They then fired a fourth torpedo into the ship which sank soon afterwards. Next morning the five lifeboats and three rafts, strung out in line ahead, and connected by their painters, were sighted by a searching Liberator plane which had been sent out in response to the ship's distress message - which had been despatched as soon as she was hit.

The plane guided Wren towards the spot and returned to base after dropping an encouraging message in a buoyant float. By 5 p.m. (May 1st) the 149 Survivors were safely aboard the sloop. A wounded passenger died there next day. Loss of life was therefore 17 persons - three passengers, fourteen crew. There need have been only one casualty - 4th Engineer Hartley. The rest were killed because the enemy would not allow sufficient time for abandonment of the ship.

Sold together with the following archive:

(i)
National Service (Armed Forces) Acts Grade Card, dated 5 June 1941.

(ii)
Royal Navy and Royal Marines Next of Kin Casualty Card.

(iii)
Telegram addressed to Mrs Coate stating that her son was missing on war service, dated 12 May 1943.

(iv)
Buckingham Palace note to Mrs Coate.

(v)
Letter from Port Line Ltd confirming his death, dated 6 May 1943.

(vi)
Note from Director of Navy Accounts presuming his death, dated 17 January 1944.

(vii)
Certificate of the Inspector of Seamen's Wills, dated 23 February 1944.

(viii)
Certificate of Service.

(ix)
Assorted letters to his Mother and his Uncle George.

(x)
Port Line booklet for War-Time Experiences 1939-1945, details of speeches and War Memorial.

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Sold for
£140

Starting price
£100