拍品專文
Only six Military Medals were awarded in the 1939-45 War for actions at sea, Admiralty Orders in Council of 1.7.1942 (H&A 456) and 5.11.1942 (H&A 909) extending the award of the D.S.M. and D.S.C. to Army personnel. Thus Gunner Carus won the only Maritime R.A. Military Medal of the last War, which Decoration he received at an Investiture at Buckingham Palace on 20.7.1943 (original admittance ticket refers).
M.M. London Gazette 21.10.1941. Recommendation states 'On 25 May 1941, Gunner Carus was a member of an A.A. protective party on the Tanker Helka. His Sergeant-in-Charge reports as follows: Just outside Tobruk we were attacked by 27 Bombers. Gunner Carus, although hit in several places and although the ship had been blown in two, continued firing his gun until he was pulled away and told to get in his boat'.
A more extensive account of the fate that befell the Tanker Helka off Tobruk in May 1941 exists in the official Action Report submitted by Bombardier T. Russell, a senior N.C.O. of 6th Maritime A.A. Battery, R.A.:
'I was 2nd N.C.O.-in-Charge of the Troop on board the S.S. Helka proceeding to Tobruk from Alexandria. We were attacked by 27 Dive Bombers (German markings). We and our Escort opened fire, our Escort being H.M. Sloop Grimsby and an Armed Trawler the Southern Maid. All guns were in action and our ship received a direct hit with a bomb and split in two parts. We carried on firing to the last. The Grimsby had already been hit and was sinking. Owing to the flurry and excitement caused, the accuracy of our fire was indefinite although some of the planes left rather hurriedly damaged. The Officer-in-Charge gave orders to abandon ship and men dived overboard to swim to the only lifeboat which was freed and floating away from the ship. Gunner Carus was still firing the gun of the aft deck although badly wounded. I and an Australian Sergeant went aft and had to use physical force to get Gunner Carus away from the gun, in order that we could get him off the ship before she exploded - her cargo was bensine spirit. The total number of survivors I do not know. We were picked up by the Armed Trawler and a Roll Call was made. Gunner Cunliffe was missing - the last anyone saw of him, he was on the for'ead part of the ship that was being taken away by the current. Gunner Gilbert was admitted to hospital at Almaza Camp, Cairo with sun-fly fever. I might add that all the Troop acted in a most efficient manner and their conduct was exemplary and no man ever thought of himself first'.
M.M. London Gazette 21.10.1941. Recommendation states 'On 25 May 1941, Gunner Carus was a member of an A.A. protective party on the Tanker Helka. His Sergeant-in-Charge reports as follows: Just outside Tobruk we were attacked by 27 Bombers. Gunner Carus, although hit in several places and although the ship had been blown in two, continued firing his gun until he was pulled away and told to get in his boat'.
A more extensive account of the fate that befell the Tanker Helka off Tobruk in May 1941 exists in the official Action Report submitted by Bombardier T. Russell, a senior N.C.O. of 6th Maritime A.A. Battery, R.A.:
'I was 2nd N.C.O.-in-Charge of the Troop on board the S.S. Helka proceeding to Tobruk from Alexandria. We were attacked by 27 Dive Bombers (German markings). We and our Escort opened fire, our Escort being H.M. Sloop Grimsby and an Armed Trawler the Southern Maid. All guns were in action and our ship received a direct hit with a bomb and split in two parts. We carried on firing to the last. The Grimsby had already been hit and was sinking. Owing to the flurry and excitement caused, the accuracy of our fire was indefinite although some of the planes left rather hurriedly damaged. The Officer-in-Charge gave orders to abandon ship and men dived overboard to swim to the only lifeboat which was freed and floating away from the ship. Gunner Carus was still firing the gun of the aft deck although badly wounded. I and an Australian Sergeant went aft and had to use physical force to get Gunner Carus away from the gun, in order that we could get him off the ship before she exploded - her cargo was bensine spirit. The total number of survivors I do not know. We were picked up by the Armed Trawler and a Roll Call was made. Gunner Cunliffe was missing - the last anyone saw of him, he was on the for'ead part of the ship that was being taken away by the current. Gunner Gilbert was admitted to hospital at Almaza Camp, Cairo with sun-fly fever. I might add that all the Troop acted in a most efficient manner and their conduct was exemplary and no man ever thought of himself first'.