Second World War Atlantic and Pacific operations group awarded to Able Seaman K.R. Winterburn, Royal Navy, who came from Starbeck, near Harrowgate, Yorkshire. He initially saw service aboard the aircraft carrier Argus during 1943 to 1944 when this vessel was in the Atlantic as an escort carrier and also being used for deck-landing practice for the Fleet Air Arm pilots in training. He then travelled out to Australia in early 1945, and saw service with the British Pacific Fleet for the rest of the war. He was aboard the armed merchant cruiser Montclare from July 1945, she being the flagship for the Pacific Fleet Train (Task Force 112).
Group of 4:1939-1945 Star; Atlantic Star; Pacific Star; War Medal. Mounted swing style as worn. Together with the Admiralty Campaign Medal Award Slip, confirming entitlement to ‘4’ awards, and the Director of Navy Accounts card box of issue, addressed to: ‘Mr K.R. Winterburn, 33 Albert Place, Starbeck, Harrowgate, Yorkshire’.
Condition: Good Very Fine.
Together with the following:
Canvas Royal Navy Certificate of Service, as issued to Winterburn.
Order of Release from Naval Service, as issued to Winterburn, dated July 1946.
National Registration Identity Card, as issued to Winterburn, dated for 1946.
Kenneth Roy Winterburn was born on 17th February 1925 in Starbeck, near Harrowgate, Yorkshire, and having worked as a butchers assistant, with the Second World War then joined the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman (Portsmouth No.JX.430510) with Collingwood on 25th March 1943. Posted to Victory on 2nd June 1943, he then joined the aircraft carrier Argus on 17th June 1943, and would be rated as an Able Seaman whilst aboard her on 11th March 1944. During this period Argus would be used as an escort carrier in the Atlantic and mostly for deck-landing practice for the Fleet Air Arm pilots in training.
Winterburn was posted back to Victory on 15th November 1944, and then joined Golden Hind from 17th February 1945, this being a shore establishment in New South Wales, Australia - being built up to supply manpower for the expected increase in the war against Japan. As such whilst out in Australia, Winterburn then joined the Melbourne based shore establishment Beaconsfield from 23rd May 1945, before returning to Golden Hind from 27th June 1945. He then joined the large Landing Ship Infantry and troop carrier Glenearn, which was a converted cargo liner, seeing service aboard her from 11th July 1945, before shortly afterwards transferring to the armed merchant cruiser Montclare from 25th July 1945, aboard which vessel he saw out the rest of the war.
Montclare was the flagship for the Pacific Fleet Train (Task Force 112) and aboard her sailed Rear Admiral D.B. Fisher and she then remained with the British Pacific Fleet. Winterburn joined the British Pacific Fleet’s Submarine Spare Crew Accommodation Ship Aorangi from 26th November 1945, but rejoined Montclare from 15th December 1945, and was posted home to Victory on 5th July 1946 and released from service on 13th September 1946.
