A WW2 Merchant Navy 'Sinking of Troopship S.S. Strathallan’ Survivor Medal Group awarded to Percy Lionel Brown, Merchant Navy.

Percy Lionel Brown was born at Hackney Wick, London, on 3rd June 1905. He joined the Merchant Navy and by October 1924 was serving on Passenger Ship China as a Third Class Baker. After a number of other ships on 14 March 1938 he joins Steamship Strathallan as a Baker.

Once the War had started the ship took on a role of Troopship. During Operation Torch she was torpedoed on 21 December 1942 by the German Submarine U562 off Oran, off the coast of Algeria. Strathallan was carrying 440 crew members, 26 gunners, 248 nurses and over 4000 troops. Luckily, he survived this and continued serving.

The following is an online extract of the sinking of Strathallan (copy included with the research) –

In the early morning hours of Dec 21, 1942, U-562 fired a spread of four torpedoes at convoy KMF-5 around 40 miles north of Oran Algeria.

SS Strathallan was hit by one torpedo which struck the engine room on the port side and the ship immediately started listing, the captain ordered the passengers to evacuate the ship into the lifeboats.

Among the survivors were LIFE Magazine Photographer Margaret Bourke-White, Kay Summersby & WAC Officers of the staff of General Eisenhower, British Nurses of Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Reserve Service, and the officers & crew of SS Strathallan.

The RNVR Officer on HMS Panther in three of the pictures is David Alexander Reginald Herbert, 2nd son of the 15th Earl of Pembrook.

After evacuation of the passengers, efforts were made to save the stricken SS Strathallan including trying to tow her to Oran.

At 0400 hrs the morning of Dec 22 she capsized to port and sank 12 miles off Oran, 16 crew and passengers were lost.

Strathallan’s Captain John Henry Biggs was awarded the CBE and the Lloyds War Medal for bravery at sea.

Account from Margaret Bourke-White’s Autobiography;

“Our convoy was large, with an airplane carrier, several troopships, and a body of destroyers. Lifeboat drills were called three times a day. I thought this was overdoing discipline a bit. I was soon to change my mind.

The torpedo came almost softly, penetrating the ship with a dull blunt thud.

I heard a voice through a loud speaker, the order to abandon ship. Lifeboat station No. 12 became the most desirable place in the world. I slid into my place and sat in silence with my companions while the moon beat down on us all.

Later, my Air Force friends took me for a drying out at an exotic villa. Right inside the front door I collided with General Jimmy Doolittle. His first words were, "Maggie, do you still want to go on a bombing mission?"

“Of course," I gasped.

“Well, you've been torpedoed. You might as well do everything," he said.

LIFE Magazine Archives - Margaret Bourke-White Photographer WWP-PD

Percy Brown was to later die at sea on the 26th April 1956.

The medals are mounted for display on their original ribbons, sold with copied research including confirmation that this is his full and correct medal and clasp entitlement, original named O.H.M.S medal box of issue with six greased medal envelopes, medal award slip, and are as follows –

1939-1945 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, clasp North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45, all unnamed as issued.

Condition, extremely fine