*British, WW2, Royal Navy – Named Medal Bar of Five to Chief Ordnance Artificer James Henderson (M.36715), HMS Berwick, Mentioned in Despatches, 1939–45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star, War Medal & Long Service & Good Conduct, with Miniatures*
A Royal Navy Second World War medal group of five comprising the 1939–1945 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star, War Medal 1939–1945 with Mention in Despatches oak leaf, and the Royal Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (George VI issue). The Long Service & Good Conduct Medal is officially impressed: M.36715 J. HENDERSON. C.O.A.2. H.M.S. BERWICK. The medals are court mounted for wear and accompanied by the corresponding miniature group and ribbon bar. The original miniature dress medals are present, privately purchased period examples bearing the retailer’s mark “K.C. Luke, Melbourne.”
Service records confirm the recipient as Chief Ordnance Artificer 2nd Class James Henderson, Royal Navy, born 16 November 1905 at Kendal, Westmorland, Portsmouth Division. The campaign stars and War Medal are correctly unnamed as issued. The oak leaf emblem on the War Medal ribbon is confirmed in the service record as an official Mention in Despatches, published in the London Gazette (30 May 1947).
This is therefore a named, fully identified and documented wartime Royal Navy group with confirmed gallantry recognition.
Historical Note:
Service records identify the recipient as James Henderson, born 16 November 1905 at Kendal, Westmorland, who entered Royal Navy service on 3 January 1929. His official number M.36715 denotes entry through the technical and artificer branch, Portsmouth Division, the “M” prefix being used for ratings of the mechanical and ordnance specialist trades rather than general seaman or stoker branches. Henderson progressed through the Ordnance Artificer grades, a highly skilled technical role responsible for the maintenance and operational readiness of a ship’s guns, mountings and ammunition systems. His record shows consistently strong character and efficiency assessments, typical of a career rating trusted with critical equipment during peacetime fleet service.
During the inter-war years he served in a succession of cruisers and gunnery establishments including HMS Tiger, Excellent, Champion, Caradoc, Revenge, Caledon and Danae, gaining extensive experience within the Royal Navy’s gunnery and weapons maintenance environment before promotion to senior artificer status.
In December 1938 he was drafted to the heavy cruiser HMS Berwick, remaining borne until April 1940, placing him aboard during the tense opening phase of the Second World War. At the outbreak of hostilities the ship was employed on Atlantic patrol and convoy escort duties as part of the effort to protect Britain’s vital merchant shipping routes. These operations formed part of the early Battle of the Atlantic, conducted in severe North Atlantic conditions and under the constant threat of U-boats and enemy surface raiders. During this period Berwick participated in interception patrols and northern waters operations connected with the developing Norwegian campaign, duties that required long periods at sea and a high state of readiness. As a Chief Ordnance Artificer, Henderson’s responsibilities would have centred on keeping the ship’s main and secondary armament, ammunition hoists and associated mechanisms serviceable during extended patrols and potential action — work carried out below decks where the danger from fire or explosion was ever present if the ship came under attack.
His service record confirms that he was Mentioned in Despatches, an official recognition for distinguished or noteworthy service under operational conditions, later promulgated in the London Gazette. The award reflects performance considered above the ordinary standard expected, and is consistent with the demanding operational environment faced by cruiser crews in the first months of the war.
Taken together, the group represents the career of a long-serving Royal Navy technical specialist whose experience spanned the inter-war fleet and the critical early wartime period when Britain’s survival depended heavily upon maintaining Atlantic convoy routes and keeping front-line warships operational at sea.
*Condition*
The medals remain in very good overall condition with attractive age toning to the silver awards and even, honest patina to the stars. Naming to the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal is crisp and fully legible. Court mounting appears period and secure with light ribbon wear consistent with age. The miniature group is present and matched. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
Researched Royal Navy WWII group of five to Chief Ordnance Artificer James Henderson, HMS Berwick, Mentioned in Despatches, with miniatures.
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