Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Petty Officer Steward R. S. Purves, Royal Navy, who was killed in action when H.M.S. Daring was torpedoed by the German submarine U-23, under the command of the ‘Wolf of the Atlantic’ Otto Ktretschmer, and sank off Duncansby Head on 18 February 1940

British War and Victory Medals (P/L.6143 R. S. Purves. O.S.1. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (L.6143 R. S. Purves. O.S.1. H.M.S. Dolphin.) scratches to obverse field of last, otherwise good very fine (6) £120-£160

Reuben Stanley Purves was born in Chester on 26 April 1896 and joined the Royal Navy on 5 January 1915, serving both during and post the Great War in a variety of ships and shore based establishments. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 31 January 1930, and was advanced Petty Officer Steward on 1 October 1931. He was shore pensioned on 4 January 1937.

Purves was recalled for War service on 27 December 1939, and was posted to the D-class destroyer H.M.S. Daring on 16 January 1940; the ship had, for a time, been the first command of Lord Louis Mountbatten. On 18 February 1940 H.M.S. Daring was one of four destroyers escorting a convoy from the Norway campaign to the U.K. In the early hours of the morning the convoy was sighted by U-23, commanded by the man who would later become known as the ‘Wolf of the Atlantic’, Otto Kretschmer. At a point some 30 miles East from Duncansby Head U-23 found herself trapped on the surface between the two port-side escorts of the convoy. In order to enable an escape Kretschmer decided to attack the stern destroyer, H.M.S. Daring. Two torpedoes were fired and Daring was hit; almost immediately later a secondary explosion ripped through the ship, broke her in half she sank within two minutes, with the loss of 157 Officers and crew. There were only 5 survivors.

Purves was amongst those killed, and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.