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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 590

The campaign group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Commander (Air) N. W. Sargent, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (Fleet Air Arm), who was 'mentioned' for his share of two 'kills' - a brace of Ju88s - whilst flying off the Nairana during 'Operation Hotbed' in the Wildcats of No. 835 Squadron during the costly passage of JW64 and RA64 to the Russian Arctic - he is further mentioned in Lord Kilbracken's noteable work Bring Back my Stringbag

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, these three mounted as worn; Russia, Soviet Union, 40th Anniversary Medal 1945-85, good very fine (4)

M.I.D. London Gazette 19 June 1945. The original Recommendation states:

'Sub-Lieutenant Sargent attacked enemy aircraft on two occasions during the passage of JW64 & RA64, and shared probable kills with this Section Leader. Over a long operational period this Officer has shown a high order of gallantry and devotion to duty. His skill and dash were particulary noteworthy on Tuesday, 20 February 1945.'

Norman William Sargent was a native of Bishopton and was commissioned Temporary Sub-Lieutenant (Air) in March 1943, joining No. 790 Squadron. He thence joined No. 835 Squadron in December 1943 and was present aboard her for Operation Hotbed, when Nairana was under the command of Captain Surtees, who added a Bar to his D.S.O. for his own part (Medals sold in these rooms in November 2023).

The convoy saw raging seas and enemy attacks the whole way in despite of the conditions, one can only imagine the skill and danger required to operate from the flight deck, which was lurching in heavy seas. Nonetheless, Sargent clearly handled his aircraft with great skill, sharing 'kills' on 7 & 20 February 1945. Of his part on the latter date, Escort Carrier 1941-45 picks up the story:

'The wild wind and seas still pounded the carriers and threw them about, and it seemed impossible to get an aircraft safely off. But the gale had not grounded the Luftwaffe. The shadowers had stuck to them, and at about 1000 several groups of up to eight aircraft were detected crossing ahead of the convoy. In Nairana the order blared out: "Range four Wildcats."

With the utmost difficulty on the heaving, slippery flight deck, an augmented fligth deck party shoved and pulled the fighters into position aft, fighting the surging wind. At 1010 the the first Wildcat's engine roared, the machine slithered sideways, crabbed forward, gathered speed, staggered into the air as the deck fell away, sank over the bows, engine straining desperately, then strained upwards.

The enemy were then only twelve miles away. The first pair of fighters, Sub Lieutenant Armitage RNZVR and Sub Lieutenant Sargent, found them and sent one Ju88 torpedo bomber crawling away with white smoke pouring from the engine.'

Having scored the victory, landing was now the next challenge and given the go-ahead to land, the deck rose in the seas, forced him to bounce directly over all the wires and came to rest just short of the barriers, then getting caught in the wind and pushed down the deck. Sargent carefully applied the throttle and, with the assistance of the Flight Deck Party clinging on, they had the aircraft to a halt '...just before he slid over the round-down'. Quite the hair-raising landing!

Sargent remained in the Royal Naval Reserve and is noted as living at Forge House, Marsh Gibbon, Oxfordshire by 1999, at that time also listed as being in receipt of the Reserve Decoration.

Sold together with Admiralty Medal slip confirming '4', the Award Booklet for his Russian Medal, this named 'Lt. Cdr. N. W. Sargent RNR., Fleet Air Arm 'Wings', together with three ships 'flimsies' and good copied research.

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Sold for
£320

Starting price
£130