A Collection of Awards to Merchant Seamen and D.E.M.S. Gunners

Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46 (2nd Officer L. Scott), extremely fine £180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to Merchant Seamen and D.E.M.S. Gunners.

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Leonard William Scott, who was born in April 1913, served throughout the 1939-45 War aboard the S.S. Manela, which ship was converted for use by the R.A.F. Thus her part as a base ship for Coastal Command at Mombassa 1942-43, in addition to less enjoyable duties, such as carrying Greek P.O.Ws, members of E.L.A.S. to Egypt in early 1945. But the strangest episode in the Manela’s career was her enlistment to lead “Operation Zipper”, the planned invasion of the Malacca Straits, when she departed Singapore at the head of 50 Landing Craft Tanks and other miscellaneous craft. Fortunately the Japanese surrendered before this flotilla went into action, but Manela remained on station in S.E. Asia and assisted in the transport of R.A.F. personnel. Scott departed her in March 1946, and finally came ashore in August 1960; sold with copied service record and further details.