Offered is a 1939 – 45 Star, Africa Star, Defence and War Medals (1939 – 45), Malta George Cross Fiftieth Anniversary Medal, 1st type issue. All un named as issued, court mounted for display. Comes with copy of award letter from Office of the Prime Minister Malta and newspaper article, copy photo of Cartwright receiving his Malta medal. These bought direct from the family here in Perth.

Harold Bernard Cartwright was a member of the Hampstead AJEX - The Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women. A note on the newspaper article states “sailed on the last convoy to Malta on the Welshman. British Army. Died 2001, England.

This information was provided by the family who were rather vague as to what he did during the war. It is possible that he was Army, however it is believed that it is more likely that he was Royal Navy as the H.M.S Welshman was an Abdiel-class minelayer.

Force H, 1942–1943:  In May 1942 she sailed to the Mediterranean to join Force H in the Malta Convoys. On 8 May Welshman sailed from Gibraltar disguised as a French destroyer, with 240 tons of stores and RAF personnel aboard, in "Operation Bowery". She was sighted by enemy aircraft the next day, but her deception succeeded. On entering the Grand Harbour at Malta on 10 May she detonated two mines with her paravanes, sustaining some damage. She returned to Gibraltar on 12 May, and sailed to the UK for repairs at Yarrows at Scotstoun, returning to Gibraltar at the end of the month.

On 11 June Welshman sailed for Malta as part of the relief convoy in Operation Harpoon. The next day she left the convoy and proceeded alone. After discharging her cargo at Malta on 15 June she rejoined the convoy which was under heavy attack from Axis aircraft and Italian warships. The next day she returned to Malta with the two surviving merchant ships and their escort. The ship then returned to Gibraltar, and then to Scotstoun for repairs.

On 13 July the ship rejoined Force H at Gibraltar, sailing for Malta once again in Operation Pinpoint the next day. She arrived at Malta on 16 July and returned to Gibraltar on 21 July, despite attempts by Italian ships and aircraft to intercept her.

In August she took part in another fiercely contested Malta convoy, Operation Pedestal. She arrived on 16 August, then was transferred to the Eastern Mediterranean in September. In October she made another voyage to Malta with Force H, delivering aircraft in Operation Train and returning to Gibraltar on 2 November. Welshman then supported the Allied landings in North Africa in Operation Torch. In December she conducted minelaying operations off Haifa.

In January 1943 Welshman transported stores, including 150 tons of seed potatoes, to Malta before carrying out minelaying operations in the Skerki Channel, across the Axis evacuation route from Tunisia. She also transferred troops from Beirut to Famagusta, Cyprus.

Sunk: On 1 February 1943, while transporting stores and personnel to Tobruk, she was hit by a torpedo fired by U-617, commanded by Albrecht Brandi. Two hours later she sank east of Tobruk with the loss of 155 lives. The survivors were rescued by destroyers Tetcott and Belvoir and taken to Alexandria.