Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: attributed to Cadet W. A. Marsden, Merchant Navy, killed on 25 September 1941 when serving on S.S. Avoceta

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, unnamed, extremely fine (3) £30-50

The S.S. Avoceta, a cargo and passenger ship of the Yeoward Line, was sailing from Gibraltar to Liverpool as part of the ill-fated Convoy HG 73. She was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-203 (Kapitänleutnant Rolf Mützelburg) on 25 September 1941 with the loss of 43 crew, 4 gunners and 76 passengers. Amongst the dead was Cadet William Atherton Marsden, aged 16 years. His name is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

Interestingly Mützelburg (a winner of the Knights Cross with Oak leaves) was to die in a freak accident on 11 September 1942. During a ‘rest period’, the officers and crew were swimming in the sea - Mützelburg dived from the conning tower but the submarine rocked and he hit the saddle tank and broke his neck.

With original named condolence slip and associated Buckingham Palace slip. With copied research.