Baldwin & Sons
Auction 75 26 September 2012
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MILITARY MEDALS. A Collection of Prisoner of War Groups and Medals. A Rare Great War 'POW' Pair awarded to Commander Ronald H Clark, Royal Navy, who was captured whilst serving as a Lieutenant Engineer aboard HMS Seal, this submarine damaged by aerial bombardment and mines, subsequently captured by German Submarine-Hunting Vessel UJ-128, 5 May 1940, the only British Submarine captured in WWII, 1939-1945 Star, War Medal, 193901945; pair unnamed as issued, swing mounted with reverse pin for wear, sold with naval officer's sword, G V R pattern on blade, with scabbard & sword knot, guard lock named (R.H.S. Clark, R.N.), pocket Bible, silver-plate napkin ring, framed A4 poem 'Greetings from Seal to SEAL'. Pair toned very fine, sword showing a little wear to leather, blade untarnished. (5)
Ronald Harrison Clark, of Rotherham, Yorkshire, born 1909, was captured whilst serving as Lieutenant Engineer aboard the British submarine HMS Seal. Under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Rupert P Lonsdale, this vessel had been laying mines in the Kattegat off the Swedish coast 29 April, and when it passed the Skaw 4 May it was sighted and bombed by German aircraft. Whilst only having received slight damage from this, the Seal laid further mines despite being in the vicinity of 4 anti-submarine trawlers and numerous other E-Boats and then unwittingly moved through two lines of German mines.
As HMS Seal took evasive actions it came into contact with a mine and was severely damaged by an explosion, forcing her to the ocean floor, flooding the mining compartment and part of the crew space. After some time and running short of oxygen, in desperation the crew was called to the control room for prayer, after which quite miraculously HMS Seal gradually rose from the seabed to the surface, at 1.00am, 5 May. Attempts were made to get the engines started, but the submarine was unmanageable. At 2.50am HMS Seal was sighted once again by German aircraft and attacked, which left First Lieutenant Butler and one rating badly injured. Fire was returned by the vessel's Lewis gun until it jammed and with any further response now impossible, a German seaplane landed close by to take the Captain prisoner, and soon after the German trawler UJ-128 arrived to tow the ailing submarine to Frederickshavn.
Despite German attempts to recondition and operate HMS Seal to use as part of the propaganda war, these were ineffective, and the submarine was finally scrapped in June 1941. The crew of the vessel were taken prisoner of war at Marlag 333 , including Lieutenant Clark, until the end of hostilities. After their eventual liberation in May 1945, Lieutenant Commander Lonsdale was tried by Court-Martial on charges of failing to engage enemy aircraft and of failing to prevent the submarine falling into enemy hands, but was honorably acquitted, as were the other senior officers.
Lieutenant Clark continued to serve after the end of WWII, reaching the rank of Commander (Engineer), working largely in a training capacity until c.1958. Sold with a large quantity of research, group photographs, correspondence and useful related articles.
Estimate: £500-700
Ronald Harrison Clark, of Rotherham, Yorkshire, born 1909, was captured whilst serving as Lieutenant Engineer aboard the British submarine HMS Seal. Under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Rupert P Lonsdale, this vessel had been laying mines in the Kattegat off the Swedish coast 29 April, and when it passed the Skaw 4 May it was sighted and bombed by German aircraft. Whilst only having received slight damage from this, the Seal laid further mines despite being in the vicinity of 4 anti-submarine trawlers and numerous other E-Boats and then unwittingly moved through two lines of German mines.
As HMS Seal took evasive actions it came into contact with a mine and was severely damaged by an explosion, forcing her to the ocean floor, flooding the mining compartment and part of the crew space. After some time and running short of oxygen, in desperation the crew was called to the control room for prayer, after which quite miraculously HMS Seal gradually rose from the seabed to the surface, at 1.00am, 5 May. Attempts were made to get the engines started, but the submarine was unmanageable. At 2.50am HMS Seal was sighted once again by German aircraft and attacked, which left First Lieutenant Butler and one rating badly injured. Fire was returned by the vessel's Lewis gun until it jammed and with any further response now impossible, a German seaplane landed close by to take the Captain prisoner, and soon after the German trawler UJ-128 arrived to tow the ailing submarine to Frederickshavn.
Despite German attempts to recondition and operate HMS Seal to use as part of the propaganda war, these were ineffective, and the submarine was finally scrapped in June 1941. The crew of the vessel were taken prisoner of war at Marlag 333 , including Lieutenant Clark, until the end of hostilities. After their eventual liberation in May 1945, Lieutenant Commander Lonsdale was tried by Court-Martial on charges of failing to engage enemy aircraft and of failing to prevent the submarine falling into enemy hands, but was honorably acquitted, as were the other senior officers.
Lieutenant Clark continued to serve after the end of WWII, reaching the rank of Commander (Engineer), working largely in a training capacity until c.1958. Sold with a large quantity of research, group photographs, correspondence and useful related articles.
Estimate: £500-700