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The Ron Penhall Collection The unique Great War M.M., Second World War PQ. 17 convoy D.S.M., Lloyd’s Bravery Medal, and Malta convoy B.E.M. group of eleven awarded to Chief Steward H. J. Carswell, Merchant Navy, late Royal Artillery, who, having survived the remarkable passage of the Pampas to Malta during “Operation MG. 1” in March 1942, served aboard the only C.A.M. Ship (Catapult Aircraft Merchantman) to sail in PQ. 17, which vessel similarly endured five days of continuous air attack: in the event, her “Hurricat” pilot, Battle of Britain veteran F./O. “Dickie” Turley-George, never took to the skies, and she was one of a handful of ships to come through this ‘most shameful episode in naval history’ Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (H. J. Carswell, Chief Steward); Military Medal, G.V.R. (960016 Bmbr. H. Carswell, R.F.A.); British Empire Medal (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Horace Joy Carswell); 1914-15 Star (930 Gnr. H. Carswell, R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (930 Bmbr. H. Carswell, R.F.A.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea (Chief Steward H. J. Carswell, M.V. “Empire Tide”, 4th July 1942), together with a Merchant Navy silver and enamel lapel badge, the M.M. and Great War trio official replacements of 1939-45 War vintage, generally good very fine (12) £10000-12000 Footnote Horace Joy “Harry” Carswell was born in London in December 1894. Called up with the Terriers in 1914, he served on the Western Front with the 47th (London) R.F.A. from 1915-17, where he was shot through the thigh at Ypres, operated on at Poperhinge Hospital and survived to receive the Military Medal. After the War he joined the Orient Line and then went to India, where he managed hotels for nine years. But with the call of the sea still strong, Carswell rejoined the Orient Line, and subsequently the Nelson and Royal Mail Lines, the outbreak of hostilties finding him serving as a Steward aboard the Highland Chieftain. Transferring as a Chief Steward to the Pardo in August 1940, he next removed to the M.V. Pampas, in which ship he witnessed extensive action on the Malta run 1941-42, not least in the course of convoy MW. 10 (code name “Operation MG. 1”) in March 1942. “Pampas”: Lucky to survive “Operation MG. 1” to Malta A full account of the extraordinary punishment meted out to Pampas during - and immediately following - this important convoy is contained in an article by Graham Knight, published in The Review, Winter 1998 edition (The Journal of the Naval Historical Collectors & Research Society), from which the following extracts have been taken: ‘During the afternoon of the 23rd [March 1942] a torpedo bomber came in close to the Pampas, the gunners after aft, the cadets, on the bridge, and the troops with their Bren guns let go with all they had. The combined fire of the Pampas and the Talabot was effective. The raider swerved past the stern of the Pampas towards the Talabot, went into a quick turn, and dived into the sea. Another torpedo bomber attacked the Pampas at close range, received a direct hit on the nose from the 12 pounder gun and fell shattered into the sea. The score to the Pampas that day was certainly one and a half, and possibly two enemy aircraft destroyed. As night came down the ships’ companies were glad to see darkness fall and the gunners, having manned their guns for twelve hours, could relax at last. In accordance with a pre-arranged plan the convoy scattered at dusk. The intention was that a destroyer should remain with each merchantman. The Pampas by now was rolling and pitching in the heavy seas and was taking on board a great deal of water. Captain Ingram’s report says “Having evaded the enemy, the next consideration was navigation. So many alterations had been made it was difficult to fix the ship’s position so that a course could be set. By careful judgement, calculation, and, I suppose, some element of luck, we set course for the point of arrival. Du