A sale of medals is set to revive memories of the wartime heroics of a Keswick-born naval officer.
Roger Marshall-A’Deane was one of the most decorated Allied commanders of the Second World War, earning the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) and Distinguished Service Order (DSO) while at the helm of the destroyer HMS Greyhound in 1940-1.
His selfless bravery while attempting to rescue the survivors of another British warship also saw him awarded a posthumous Albert Medal.
All three medals will be sold by Mayfair-based auctioneers Noonans today, where they are expected to fetch up to £30,000.
Born in Keswick in 1902, Roger joined the Navy when he was just 14 during the First World War.
Shortly before the outbreak of war in 1939, he was appointed Commanding Officer of the Greyhound – and over the next two years he and its crew were in the thick of the action on several occasions.
On May 22 1941, the Greyhound took part in the Battle of Crete, which had begun when German airborne troops attacked the Allied garrison on the Mediterranean island.
The destroyer sank after coming under attack by German dive bombers, and Roger and his crew were rescued by the HMS Kandahar. Later in the day, the Kandahar went to the aid of the stricken HMS Fiji, and Roger dived into the water in an attempt to save some of the crew.
His actions were later reported in the London Gazette, which said: “Commander Marshall-A’Deane, despite the ordeal he had already been through that day, dived overboard in the gathering darkness to rescue the men in the water. He was not seen again. This was the last proof of his great gallantry.”
Nimrod Dix, specialist and deputy chairman of Noonans said: “Although Commander Marshall-A’Deane died before the age of 40, he had a momentous career and was recognised for his great gallantry on several occasions.
“Sadly, his life was cut short and his decorations, the DSO, DSC and Posthumous AM were all presented to his next of kin by King George VI and are now being sold by his family.”
