NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL (1915) CLASP PALESTINE 1945-48. R.H.HUMPHREYS. R.N

Description

Offered is a Naval General Service Medal (1915 NGSM) George VI (2nd type without ‘INDIAE IMP’ 1949–52) with clasp PALESTINE 1945-48. Impressed named P/JX. 760353 R.M.HUMPHREYS. A.B. R.N.

Comes with copy medal roll Naval Long Service medal 1962.

Able Seaman Richard Hogarth Humphreys probably joined the Royal Navy in 1947 as he was granted his Naval Long Service Medal on the 18^th June 1962. He was serving on HMS Blackpool at the time.

HMS Blackpool was a Whitby-class or Type 12 anti-submarine frigate of the Royal Navy.

Interestingly his medal is the second type which were issued 1949-52, but the clasp for Palestine was for the period 1945-48. 7,900 clasp’s were issued.

In order to prevent Jewish illegal migrants reaching Palestine a naval blockade was established to stop boats carrying illegal migrants, and there was extensive intelligence gathering and diplomatic pressure on countries through which the migrants were passing or from whose ports the ships were coming. When an illegal immigrant ship was spotted, it would be approached by warships, and would often manoeuvre violently to avoid being boarded. British boarding parties consisting of Royal Marines and Paratroopers would then be sent to take control of the ship. On 27 ships, they were met with some level of resistance, including 13 cases of violent resistance, during which boarding parties were opposed by passengers armed with weapons such as clubs, iron bars, axes, firebombs, scalding steam hoses, and pistols. Royal Navy ships would ram transports, and boarding parties forced their way onto the ships and engaged in close-quarters hand-to-hand fighting to gain control. In five instances, firearms were used.

During these encounters, two Royal Navy warships were damaged in collisions with immigrant ships. Seven British soldiers were killed during battles to take control of immigrant ships – most of whom drowned after being pushed overboard by passengers. Six passengers were also killed. From 1945 to 1948, some 80,000 illegal immigrants attempted to enter Palestine. About 49 illegal immigrant ships were captured and 66,000 people were detained. Some 1,600 others drowned at sea.