Auction: 24001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 137
A Second World War D.S.M. group of seven to Petty Officer E. T. Bushell, Royal Navy, who survived the loss of Martin, which was sunk by U-431 on 10 November 1942, he was also 'mentioned' during the conflict
Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (C.P.O. (Temp.) E. T. Bushell. C/JX.129030.); 1939-1945 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Burma Satar, clasp, Pacific; War Medal 1939-1945 with M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (JX.129030 E. T. Bushell. P.O. H.M.S. Pembroke) small official correction to surname on this last, otherwise good very fine (7)
D.S.M. London Gazette 11 June 1946.
M.I.D. London Gazette 1 December 1942.
Ernest Timothy Bushell was born on 12 March 1911 at Gillingham, Kent. He was an Errand Boy prior to enlistment and enlisted on 8 January 1929. By the outbreak of the Second World War he had reached the rank of Acting Petty Officer and was serving on Cornwall. He was promoted to Petty Officer on 18 May 1940 and transferred to Pembroke I on 1 August 1940 and then to Ganges on 24 June 1941 before he returned back to Pembroke I on 6 September 1941. Bushell was awarded a Mention for his part in the North Russian Convoy PQ18 & Qp14 during September 1942. At some stage he transfers to Martin and was aboard when she was attacked by U-431 on 10 November 1942.
On 'Torch' and the part played by Martin:
'Martin was allocated to the escort group for Force "H" in operation "Torch", the landings in North Africa. She sailed from Scapa on 30 October as part of the escort for Force "H", and after fuelling at Gibraltar on 5 November re-joined Force "H" - the covering force to the landings at Algiers and Oran, on 8 November. The task of Force "H" was to guard against action by the Italian Fleet, during the landings. Martin was torpedoed by German submarine U-431 on the morning of 10 November as a result of which she blew up and sank in position. Only 4 officers and 59 ratings including Bushell survived and were picked up by Quentin.'
He was awarded his L.S. & G.C. on 4 May 1944 and serves on Euryalus and his service records note that he was commended for good service by the C-in-C Hong Kong on 16 October 1945. In turn he was awarded his Distinguished Service Medal for "Wind Up" for the Far East.
Bushell was pensioned and retained time completed on 11 September 1952 and retired to Gillingham, Kent. Sold with the following archive:
(i)
Mention in Despatches certificate.
(ii)
A recommendation letter from Captain C. M. Parry of the R.N. Gunnery School, Chatham dated 24 May 1952.
(iii)
A letter of thanks from the Admiralty dated 15 July 1952.
(iv)
Correspondence relating to the award of the Russian 40th Anniversary of the ending of the Second World War and Certificate for the Medal, besides various photographs.
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Estimate
£1,600 to £2,000
Starting price
£1600