Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Leading Seaman G. A. Cook, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (South African Division), who served during the Second World War as a Q-Ship Gunner

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, all officially named ‘68280 G. A. Cook.’; Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (L/S. G. A. Cook - S.A.N.F. (V)) mounted as worn, good very fine (6) £160-200

George Arthur Cook was born on 25 April 1920, and joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (South African Division) at East London, South Africa, on 1 July 1937. He served with the Royal Navy during the Second War as a Gunner in H.M.S. Cape Sable, a Q-Ship renamed R.F.A. Cypress, from 10 January 1941. The following account, given by the son of one of Cook’s fellow crew members, describes the vessel and her crew:
‘My father was drafted to the special services vessel H.M.S. Cape Sable. On arrival at Scapa Flow he soon discovered that it was a spy ship! It was painted in Norwegian colours and flew a Norwegian flag. Deck crew had to wear civilian clothes. It's mission was to make it's way to somewhere off the Norwegian coast and with it's German speaking operators listen in to enemy communications. From the start the ship's personnel decided by and large this would be a one way voyage with little chance of return. If the ship was sunk as seemed likely any survivor's would be shot as spies. Morale was very low and many crew wrote a farewell letter to loved ones. To make matters worse even the civilian wharfies seemed to know about their task. The ship had to leave before being able to replenish in full it's fresh water supply. The wharf side workers observing wryly but loudly that the water probably wouldn't be needed! About two or three day's out they were spotted by a German long range Kondor reconnaissance plane. It's pilot was heard transmitting the ship's position. This fact was reported to the Admiralty who with a welcome change of heart ordered the Cape Sable to return to port. With further good luck the ship found it's way into a thick sea mist which persisted long enough for the ship to proceed unobserved by aircraft or U-boats and escape.

The general tactics which had been decided upon were that the Special Service Freighters, when operating with a convoy, should be stationed at the rear of the convoy on the wing. This was so that:
1. The freighter could keep a listening watch to give warning of an attack.
2. After an attack the freighter could obtain a contact and act as a directing vessel.
3. There was a remote possibility of being able to carry out a counter attack.
When the convoys were at a rendezvous or at anchor, the Special Service Freighters were to be placed on the seaward side. They could also of course be stationed some way astern of a convoy in the hope that some enemy submarine commander would regard them as a straggler, to be picked off from the surface. In general, the oceanic vessels spent a normal cruising period of between 24 - 28 days at sea, followed by 6 days in harbour at short notice for sea when they could stock up with coal etc., and then after a 3 month period, the period in harbour would be extended to 14 days to enable boiler cleaning etc. The coastal work vessels were to spend cruise period of about 10 days at sea, followed by 3 to 4 days in harbour at short notice, and then after a 2 month period, the period in harbour would be extended to 8 days.’ (B.B.C. People’s War refers).

Cook subsequently served in H.M.S. Victory and H.M.S. Nelson, and was promoted Leading Seaman on 1 April 1945. He was awarded his Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 18 September 1945, shortly before his discharge on 5 March 1946.

Sold with copied service and discharge papers.