A South African 'War Against Japan' WW2 medal group of 5 to a 'Springbok': Able Seaman Garth Hugh Mundell, attached Royal Navy, late Combined Operations & H.M.S Indomitable (Aircraft Carrier)
- The 1939-1945 Star (586409 G.H. Mundell)
- The Burma Star. 'Pacific' clasp (586409 G.H. Mundell)
- Defence Medal (586409 G.H. Mundell)
- War Medal (586409 G.H. Mundell)
- Africa Service Medal. Silver (586409 G.H. Mundell)
Note: All medals are officially impressed named medals as struck and issued by the Pretoria Mint
Rarity: 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. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za )
Important: All medals and clasp confirmed and enumerated on accompanying hard-copy service papers and original ephemera
Sold together with:
- O.H.M.S. registered letter addressed to recipient in South Africa
- 6 x marked manila paper envelopes of issues form the Pretoria Mint
- Original named and dated discharge certificate
- Letter to Commander Bisset itemising medals & clasp earned
- Photocopied hard set of service papers confirming all medals earned
Hugh Garth Mundell son of Hugh Mundell was a South African of British descent who was born at Mount Frere, East Griqualand, Union of South Africa, on 17 April 1925. Prior to volunteering to join the South African Naval Force at Durban, Natal, on 28 July 1943 (at age 18 years 3 months), Hugh had been employed as a 'Shop Assistant'. On 28 July 1943, he took his 'Oath' to volunteer for 'Service Anywhere'. Garth's service sheet lists his subsequent Second World War postings in order:
- Durban Port Detachment: 27 July 1943 to 30 July 1943
- Cape Town Detachment: 31 July 1943 to 1 October 1943
- H.M.S. Afrikander: 2 October 1943 to 12 October 1943
- Seconded to Royal Navy: With effect from 1 October 1943
- H.M.S. Assegai: 13 October 1943 to 15 December 1943
- H.M.S. Braganza (Bombay): 16 December 1943 'Combined Ops'
- H.M.S. Indomitable (Aircraft Carrier): Served from July 1944
- H.M.S. Kongoni (Durban Shore Base): 17 December 1945
- Ceased to be seconded to Royal Navy: 25 January 1946
- Discharged from South Africa Naval Force 28 January 1946
H.M.S. Indomitable - Aircraft Carrier - after a passage to Trincomalee, joined the Eastern Fleet on 5 July 1944. At which time Hugh appears (the service papers have clipped dates showing **y 1944 (?)) to have been posted from H.M.S. Braganza / Combined Operations for service aboard Indomitable. While it is possible that Hugh's service with 'Combined Operations' (Landing Craft) may have prior earned him the Burma Star for service in the Bay of Bengal, the only warship shown on Hugh's service sheet that is definitely known to have served in the Bay of Bengal & Indian Ocean (qualifying for the Burma Star) and later deployed to join the Pacific Fleet in 1945, was the Aircraft Carrier H.M.S. Indomitable
H.M.S. indomitable together with H.M.S. Victorious launched bombers against Sumatra in August and September 1944. They later bombed the Nicobar Islands, after which Indomitable joined up with Illustrious to attack Medan and Sumatra again on 20 December 1944 The following year, Indomitable joined the British Pacific Fleet. On 4 January 1945 she, her sister ship Victorious and another fleet carrier Indefatigable attacked Medan. Subsequent actions were taken against Palembang and Sumatra, later in January. On 4 May 1945 she was hit by a kamikaze, but her armoured flight deck saved her from serious damage. In August, with the war ending, Indomitable supported the liberation of Hong Kong, arriving after a landing party from HMCS Prince Robert had taken the Japanese surrender. Her aircraft flew the carrier's last combat missions of the war and of her career on 31 August and 1 September against Japanese suicide boats which were attacking British forces
A very scarce named 'War Against Japan' medal group to a South African who served with 'Combined Operations' (in support of Royal Marine Commandos) in India later aboard the British Aircraft Carrier H.M.S. in operations against the Japanese in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and strikes against Sumatra Island, and later served in the Pacific including being present at the Liberation of Hong Kong
Condition: GVF