In the Charterhouse Collectors’ auction of June 9 and 10 there is a group of Second World War medals awarded to a teenage Apprentice Seaman for bravery at sea.
“As an apprentice he was under training and yet ended up taking command of the situation despite there being officers about,” said Richard Bromell of the auctioneers.
“The market for medals and militaria remains strong and we expect this group to sell towards £1,000.”
Apprentice Ian Alastair Clark was born in South Africa in 1924.
He joined up as an apprentice in 1941 aged just 17.
In 1942 he made his first full voyage on the Congella. In 1943 the Congella was
attacked and sunk by a
Japanese submarine.
The ship’s master was mortally wounded and pinned down by debris and issued the order to abandon ship which was on fire.
Apprentice Clark, aged 18, stood by the dying master rendering what help he could.
As one of the last to abandon ship he took charge of a lifeboat which had been damaged.
With 29 other survivors the boat needed constant bailing to keep afloat.
After four days and 180 miles of sailing they were spotted by two Catalina aircraft which landed in rough seas and rescued them.
For his action, Clark was awarded a British Empire Medal and a rare Lloyd’s Medal for Bravery at Sea.
Maybe this action put Mr Clark off a life at sea as, after
the war, he only took one further trip by sea, when he returned home to South Africa, for a life ashore.
Richard Bromell and the team can be contacted for advice and valuations on single items and collections at Long Street, Sherborne 01935 812277 info@charterhouse-auction.com or charterhouse-auction.com.