An unusual Second World War North Africa and Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal group awarded to Able Seaman A.W. Spurgin, Royal Navy who was killed in action on 17th September 1940 when HMS Kent was attacked by Italian Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 torpedo bombers whilst detached to bombard Bardia, Kent later being towed back to base with great difficulty. Having no known grave he is now remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Group of 4: 1939-1945 Star; Africa Star; War Medal, all unnamed as issued; Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, GVIR 1st type bust, (J.102649 (CH.B.23402) A.W. SPURGIN. A.B. R.N.) this last individually mounted for wear. Along with handwritten casualty slip to ‘Arthur William Spurgin’ and in Navy account box of issue addressed to ‘Mrs D.B. Spurgin, Whatcombe, Telegraph Road, West End, Southampton.
Condition: Good Very Fine
Arthur William Spurgin was born in Woolwich, Kent on 19th December 1904 and saw service in the Royal Navy from 31st May 1921 initially as a Boy 2nd Clas with Ganges and then from 22nd January 1922 as a Boy 1st Class. He would transfer to Calliop on 29th June 1922, remaining there until 21st August 1922, before then serving with Royal Oak from 25th August 1922 until 2nd October 1922. He would then serve aboard Royal Sovereign from 3rd October 1922, being promoted Ordinary Seaman on 19th December 1922 and Able Seaman on 5th September 1923, before returning ashore with Pembroke on 6th September 1925 and with Egmont II attached to Vimiera from 25th June 1929. Vimiera would then be attached to Pembroke and then Egmont before he would transfer to Anthony on 11th March 1930, and then Broke from 6th August 1930, which would then be attached to Pembroke. He would transfer to Whitshed on 16th April 1931 remaining there until he joined Comet on 3rd June 1932 with whom he served until moving ashore with Pembroke on 31st August 1934 and being shore pensioned on 18th December 1934. He would join the Royal Fleet Reserve on 19th December 1934 and would be recalled on 4th December 1939, initially serving with Pembroke then being posted to HMS Chakdina on 2nd January 1940. His final transfer would be to HMS Kent on 18th March 1940 and aboard which he would be killed on 17th September 1940. Following the declaration of war by Italy, Kent was transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet, arriving at Alexandria in August 1940 with the 3rd Cruiser Squadron. On 17 August 1940, Kent, the battleships Warspite, Malaya, Ramillies and twelve destroyers bombarded Italian positions near Bardia and Fort Capuzzo. Two weeks later the ship participated in Operation Hats, escorting a convoy from Alexandria to Malta.
On 15 September 1940 the battleship Valiant, the aircraft carrier Illustrious, Kent, the anti-aircraft cruisers Calcutta and Coventry, and seven destroyers left Alexandria bound for Benghazi. During the night of 16/17 September 1940, aircraft from the Illustrious mined the harbour of Benghazi. They also attacked shipping in the harbour with torpedoes and bombs, sinking two destroyers and two merchant ships. Kent and two destroyers were detached to bombard Bardia while returning to Alexandria. During the night of 17/18 September 1940 the ship was hit in the stern by a torpedo from Italian Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 bombers from the 279th Independent Torpedo Squadron (Italian: Squadriglia Autonoma Aerosiluranti) led by Carlo Emanuele Buscaglia. She was towed back to base by the destroyers with great difficulty.
Having no known grave he is now remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial and is noted as the son of A.W. Spurgin and Ida Martha Spurgin, husband of Dorothy Beatrice Spurgin of Southampton.
