A superb South African Second World War Naval Service Medal Group of 7 with 'Archive' to Chauffer to Vice Admiral A.U. Willis C.B, D.S.O., Eastern Fleet: Able Seaman Frederick Charles Suters, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (South African Division)

- The 1939-45 Star. No clasp (68003 F. C. Suters)
- The Atlantic Star. No clasp (68003 F. C. Suters)
- The Burma Star. No clasp (68003 F. C. Suters)
- The Italy Star (68003 F. C. Suters)
- Defence Medal (68003 F. C. Suters)
- War Medal (68003 F. C. Suters)
- Africa Service Medal (68003 F. C. Suters)

Medals Verification: All medals confirmed as entitled and issued per the recipient's extant service records. The medals were issued to the recipient on 5 May 1953

Frederick Charles Suters was born on 18 August 1909, and was a native of Durban, Natal, South Africa. Prior to enlisting he had been employed as a 'Plasterer', and had been residing with wis wife Margaret Elsie Suters at, 4 Windsor Drive, Durban North, Natal. Frederick enlisted at Durban on 2 June 1941. He briefly served on Afrikander II from 2-29 June 1941 and then to Afrikander I from 30 June until 12 September 1941. Suters then saw longer service attached to the Royal Navy, where he served aboard the battleship H.M.S. Revenge from 13 September 1941 until 23 November 1943. While serving on 'Revenge' he was appointed chauffeur to Vice Admiral Algernon Usborne Willis, C.B., D.S.O. (later Admiral of the Fleet, G.C.B., K.B.E., D.S.O.) then Second-in-Command of the Eastern Fleet (Indian Ocean) before being posted to Victory from 24 November 1943 until 24 May 1944. Afterwards, he served on several other ships including but not restricted to: H.M.S. Gorleston & H.M.S. Ceylon. Suters then served on Mayinn from 10 August until 4 October 1945 and finally on Kongoni (Assegai) briefly from 5-24 October 1945. He was discharged on 8 November 1945

Sold with the following archive:

(i). An order on H.M.S. Revenge letterhead from the Flag Lieutenant Commander to the Vice-Admiral dated 22 May 1942 stating that Suters is chauffer to Vice Admiral A. V. Willis C.B. D.S.O. and has permission to drive the car. This rubber stamped 'Vice-Admiral 2nd In Command Eastern Fleet'

(ii). Vice-Admiral car pennant.

(iii). Letter from Officer in Charge War Records letter confirming medal entitlement this dated 23 January 1951

(iv). A poignant handwritten letter letter sent to him from Bill Adamson of Mess 23 H.M.S. Repulse.

Important: His friend Bill Adamson was 'Killed-in-Action' on 10 December 1941, when the Battlecruiser H.M.S. Repusle was destroyed and sunk as part of 'Z Force', which task force was destroyed and scattered off the eastern coast of Malaya. William 'Bill' Adamson, was just one of two South African's serving on H.M.S. Repulse - and this a rare surviving document of considerable South African naval history interest to a South African serviceman who was killed serving with the Royal Navy, just two days after the start of the Pacific War. Bill Adamon would, amongst other campaign medals have been entitled to a named Pacific Star

No. 69901 Ordinary Seaman William 'Bill' Douglas Adamson, H.M.S. Repulse, was the son of Mr & Mrs J. Adamson of Klerksdorp, Transavval, South Africa

Quote,

Mess 23

H.M.S. Repulse

Hello Fred,

Well I guess I did not to bad for I have been drafted to the Repulse. Although I would have liked to have joined your ship I can't grumble for she is a swell ship. There is only one rating and I the only two South Africans aboard, but the boys in our mess are a good lot. I am in the FX Division. AA lookout; defence station & 15" A turret shell room action station.

The AA lookout is OK, with only 2 hrs out of 4 on watch, but the shell room is darn hot & stuffy, Well Fred I hope this letter reaches you alright & I hope to see you again soon on some port, so I will say cheerio!

Your Pal,
Bill Adamson

PS: Regards to the others

Unquote.

(v). Sold together with a hard copy set of photo-copied service papers for the recipient

A rare second World War group of 7 to a South African serviceman, including a Burma Star

Burma Star: Only an estimated 1932 x Burma Stars confirmed awarded to South African personnel, of which only an estimated 295 x earned the clasp 'Pacific' (Ref South Africa and the War Against Japan 1941-1945 (Cdr W. E. Bisset, South African Naval Museum, Simons Town, published Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 25, Nr 2, 1995. See:

http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za )

Important: All medals and clasp confirmed and enumerated on accompanying hard-copy service papers and original ephemera

Condition: GVF

Code: 24773