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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 618

(x) Five: Flight Sergeant J. A. T. Colverd, South African Air Force, who was killed in action on 25 June 1942

1939-1945 Star; Africa Star; War and Africa Service Medal 1939-45, all named (102234 J. A. T. Colverd), with South African Next of Kin badge No. 2526, good very fine (5)

John Arthur Taylor Colverd was born at Johannesburg on 28 May 1917 and joined the South African Air Force as an Air Gunner on 3 June 1940, and was sent to R.A.F. Bulawayo for training. With various postings he found himself at M.E. Paal on 12 August 1941 and from there was posted to No. 24 Squadron from 18 August 1941. On 2 November 1941 Colverd transferred to No. 12 Squadron, who at the time were flying Marylands and were heavily involved in attacking the enemys attempt at resupplying fuel supplies. Colverd is listed in a number of surviving combat reports from the time.

Stopping Rommel

On 26 May Rommel launched Operation Theseus, an attack against the British defensive line stretching from Gazala to Bir Hacheim in Cyrenaica. No. 12 Squadron again found themselves attacking advancing columns of enemy troops and armour in support of Allied troops, desperately attempting to stem the tide as holes were punched through defensive positions. Despite isolated examples of determined resistance, the situation on the ground deteriorated rapidly as the difference between retreating and advancing forces became near-impossible to distinguish from bombing altitude. Air and ground crews on advance landing grounds slept under the wings of their aircraft with rifles and revolvers in easy reach. At this time, having outrun their supply lines, German and Italian armour were forced to halt until fuel could be brought up from the rear, and it was these formations that No. 12 Squadron attacked in early June during a series of day and night raids. At the height of the confusion surrounding retreat, the squadron attacked Derna airfield on 13 June following the departure of another convoy for Malta. Their lone efforts were to prove of little consequence, as only two of the original seventeen ships reached the beleagured island. The role played by the light bombers of 3 Wing in finally halting Rommel's advance is open to speculation, as most latter-day observers suggest a combination of exhaustion and supply lines stretched beyond breaking point ultimately culminated in the Axis advance being checked along the El Alamein defensive line on 4 July 1942.


During this campaign Colverd was listed as "Missing" on 25 June 1942 and presumed dead the same day as a result of "Ack Ack" over the target at Mersah Matruh. He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial. His service papers confirm this medal entitlement and these were despatched on 6 January 1953.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£200

Starting price
£100