Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte

An exceptional campaign service group of nine awarded to Chief Petty Officer E. H. Watkins, Royal Navy, whose action-packed career included his ship being mined in the Baltic in 1919 and service off Somaliland in 1920: so, too, extended service in the destroyer H.M.S. Electra from her rescue of survivors from the S.S. Athenia in September 1939 up until her own demise in the Java Sea in February 1942 - the interim witnessing her part in the Battle of Narvik, the Bismarck action (when she picked up the Hood’s three survivors), the first Arctic convoy of the War, and the battle of Kuantan in December 1941, when she rescued some 570 souls from the Repulse: Watkins was mentioned in despatches and became a P.O.W.

British War and Victory Medals (J. 50389 E. H. Watkins, A.B., R.N.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1920 (J. 50389 E. H. Watkins, A.B., H.M.S. Clio); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Pacific Star, clasp, Burma; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., coinage bust (J. 50389 E. H. Watkins, L.S., H.M.S. Sussex), the 1939-45 War awards in their named card forwarding box, together with his Bosun’s whistle, a presentation silver watch fob, named and dated 1923, Lord Beresford Masonic Lodge award, silver and enamel, named and dated 1947, and a fine quality rolled-gold presentation cigarette case, the lid inscribed, ‘Presented by Donaldson Atlantic Line Ltd., Owners T.S.S. “Athenia”, Sunk by German Submarine, 3rd September 1939’, the first three with contact marks and polished, thus fine, the remainder very fine and better (Lot) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte.

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Ernest Hector Watkins, who was born in Fulham, London, in August 1900, entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in February 1916 and witnessed active service in the armed merchant cruiser Orvieto from February 1918 until the end of the War; so, too, out in the Baltic in April-September 1919, in which latter month his ship, the destroyer Verulum, was mined and sunk off Seskaer Island in the Gulf of Finland - about half of her complement died, Watkins and the survivors being picked up by the Walpole.

Next employed as an Able Seaman in the Clio, he served off Somaliland in 1920, to which Medal & clasp he added his L.S. & G.C. in November 1933, and, by September 1939, he was serving as a Petty Officer in the destroyer Electra, under Commander S. A. “Sammy” Buss, R.N.

And few had a quicker introduction to the future intent of Hitler’s U-boat packs, Electra being early on the scene of the S.S. Athenia’s demise west of Donegal on the first day of hostilities - of her 1100 passengers, at least 300 of them U.S. citizens, 93 were lost - 69 of these women and 16 of them children.

In the following year, Electra was present in operations off Norway, including the battle of Narvik, and she would go on to serve as an escort in the first ever Arctic convoy, but meanwhile command devolved to Commander C. W. May, R.N. And, as it transpired, Electra was to become involved in further significant events and rescues - not least the Bismarck action of May 1941, when she picked-up the Hood’s survivors and escorted the damaged Prince of Wales back to port. Watkins was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 1 July 1941).

Electra next sailed with the repaired Prince of Wales - and the Repulse - to the Far East, in which theatre of war both were famously lost to enemy aircraft off Kuantan in December 1941 - Watkins and his shipmates rescuing some 570 souls from the Repulse’s complement. Alas, Electra was destined for a comparable demise at the battle of Java Sea on 27 February 1942 when, in an effort to protect the damaged Exeter, she sacrificed herself in a very gallant attack against the enemy cruiser Jintsu and six escorting destroyers - badly damaged by several hits, she went down, bow first, with her White Ensign flying. Around 50 of her crew were later picked up by the American submarine S-38, commanded by Lieutenant H. G. Munson, U.S.N., including Watkins, who was wounded. Munson later reported:

‘Several of the men picked up were badly wounded from splinters and there were two cases of powder burns. Five had to be removed by stretchers and all were suffering from shock and exposure. In spite of this and the extremely cramped and uncomfortable day spent in a submarine designed for a crew of 35, on a 13 and a half hour dive in the tropics, these men remained plucky and cheerful in the face of their disaster and were an inspiration to us all.’

Ten badly wounded men, including Watkins, had to remain in Java after being disembarked there by the S-38, while the remainder were taken on to Australia. As a result, Watkins became a P.O.W. and had to endure three and a half years of Japanese hospitality, an ordeal which he nonetheless survived. He was discharged as a Chief Petty Officer in October 1946; sold with copied research.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s Certificate of Service, a Wounds & Hurts Certificate, issued to him aboard the Sussex in April 1934, and Buckingham Palace letter for returning Far East P.O.Ws.