World War II

World War II, the sinking of the S.S. Rhexanor, and 17 lives saved in an epic and heroic lifeboat journey, a rare M.B.E. group of eight medals to Maurice John Case (1901-1988), Mate, sold with his pencilled log of the lifeboat's voyage; Member of the Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) Civil, World War I, War and Victory Medals (Mid. M. J. Case R.N.R.), 1939-1945, Atlantic, Pacific and Italy Stars, War Medal, brooch mounted for wearing, extremely fine; Sold with the 8 page pencilled log of the lifeboat's voyage (with typed transcript); photographs of Case with some of the crew on arrival in Antigua; fitted case for the M.B.E.; and a copy of "A Merchant Fleet in War, Alfred Holt & Co 1939-1945", by Captain S. W. Roskill, R.N., London, 1962 (which gives a full account of the loss of the Rhexanor). At 6.45 a.m. on 3rd February, 1943, the S.S. Rhexanor (Capt. Leonard Eccles) was torpedoed by the U-217 (KapitanLeutnant Kurt Reichenbach-Klinke) in the North Atlantic, south-east of Bermuda (24 59N 43 37W), sinking at about 8.35 a.m.. She was on an independent (i.e. non-convoy) voyage from Durban to the U.K., by way of Takoradi, Freetown and St John. Lifeboats 1, 3, 4 and 5 were manned, all with current data from the Nautical Almanac placed in them by Case. Capt. Eccles took command of No. 1 boat with 19 men, the ship's chronometer, navigational equipment and a portable wireless set. Case commanded No. 4 boat with a complement of 17 men. Meanwhile, the 4th Mate, C. W. Graham Allen, had been taken aboard the U-217, and having refused to identify the Captain, was taken prisoner (he was landed in Brest and spent over 2 years in POW camp 'Milag Nord'). The various lifeboats remained at sea for several weeks and Case reached Antigua on 21st February, "in good health, except a bit groggy on the legs". Capt. Eccles reached Guadaloupe on 20th February, whilst No. 3 boat (2nd Mate W. M. Thomas and 17 men) was spotted by an aircraft and consequently rescued by ship on 23rd February and taken to St. Thomas Island. No. 5 boat (3rd Mate S. A. G. Covell and 17 men) reached Jost van Goyen Island, Tobago on 23rd February. The boats had all covered about 1,200 miles in 18-20 days. Three lives were lost (though none on Cases's boat). Following the rescue, Capt. Leonard Eccles was awarded the O.B.E. whilst the crewmen in charge of the two other lifeboats, W. M. Thomas, and S. A. G. Covell, also received M.B.E.'s, all for "Good service in Rhexanor". During the duration of the War only 1,291 M.B.E.'s were awarded to the Merchant Navy. The S.S. Rhexanor was built in 1922 for the Ocean Steam Ship Co., by Taikoo Dockyard & Engineering Co. at Hong Kong with a tonnage of 7957grt, a length of 459ft 7in, a beam of 58ft 4in and a service speed of 14 knots. On 5th June, 1943, the U-217 was sunk by depth charges dropped from Avenger aircraft of the US escort carrier USS "Bogue". All 50 hands were lost. Further items in the lot include:- Binoculars; wh