NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL (MALAYA)-TO SHARPIN-ROYAL NAVY-KILLED WHEN HIS MOTOR LAUNCH WAS STRUCK BY A DUTCH AIRCRAFT ON AN EXERCISE

Naval General Service Medal (George VI) clasp;
MALAYA.
Named to: C/JX.409227 T.E.SHARPIN A.B. R.N.
Medal about extremely fine, toned with a couple of e/nicks.
Thomas E.Sharpin, Able seaman, JX409227 was killed on 5th June 1952 when his Motor Launch HMML 2582 was hit by a Thunderjet from the Netherlands Navy.
Sharpin was amongst 15 crew members who were killed when when the Dutch aircraft executing a sham attack during a combined exercise by British, Dutch
and Belgian forces, struck the mast of the motor launch and crashed on the deck. The crash occurred in the Marsdiep, between the northern tip of Holland the isle of Texel, two miles off the coast. Both the Thunderjet and the launch burst into flames and soon sank; the Dutch pilot and 15 of the motor launch's crew of 16 were killed. There was only one survivor, Leading Stoker Mechanic W.J.JOHNSON, who was thrown into the water and was able to stay afloat until he was rescued by some fishermen who had seen the accident from the shore and had set out in their boats.
The survivor commented: "I was in my bunk in the mess deck, and I felt myself going up in the air and I landed on my back in the water. Then I swam until I was picked up by some men in a fishing boat. I saw the ship on fire in the water, but I did not see any other men in the water"
The Dutch Pilot was Adolf (Dolf) Steen,2nd Lieutenant (Pilot Officer) RNAF.
Sold with copied National Arboretum Roll Of Honour print-out, and copied research, statement in the House of Commons recorded in Hansard.

Code: 52672