A COMPLETE ARCHIVE OF MEDALS PHOTOS AND EPHEMERA INC NAVAL ITEMS TO A BRAVE CAPTAIN IN THE MERCHANT NAVY, who saw action in both World Wars, Charles Thomas STONE, born in 1892 and who first went to Sea at age 14, (he had lied about his age stating he was 15) aboard the Latimer and was present in San Francisco just two weeks after the great Earthquake of 1906, He was stunned to see the City in ruins, He would take his first command an Admiralty Supply vessel and it was during this time serving in Scap Flow, that he had the idea of ropes and nets which could be deployed to save sailors who for whatever reason found themselves in the Sea, something he would put into practice to save lives in WW2, His Service in WW1 saw him awarded the Merchantile Marine War Medal (named Charles T Stone) STONE joined the General Steamship Company and would serve a total of 43 years all but ten being as Master (Captain) During World War Two STONE would see action on several occasions, by this time he was Captain on the 'Starling', STONE was awarded the OBE for actions in 1941, Starling was part of a Naval convoy sailing from Gibralter to Liverpool, when it was attacked by a wolf pack of German U Boats, possibly Italian too, on the evening of 27th September 1941, the Escort Carrier HMS Springbank, and other vessels were hit which also included the Cervantia, sunk by U 201 Capitan Adalbert Schnee, Stone used cargo nest and ropes to rescue survivirs from the Cervantia, and others who the Cervantia had picked up, and also survivors from HMS Springback, totals vary but estimated at over 107, He was also awarded the Lloyds medal for bravery at Sea (only 523 ever being awarded), there is a wealth of further information available on the Internet, STONE also survived a direct hit on the Starling by a German bomber the year before which killed six crew, he limped into Cadiz to bury the dead and carried on his duties, the archive tells a large amount of his life and actions through press cutting, etc, a photo album, is also present which features STONE and a Son who also served during WW2, the medals present are Lloyds medal for Bravery at Sea (Captain C T Stone SS Starling 12th October, 1940, one of the early awards of this medal, boxed OBE & miniature boxed OBE, The Merchantile Marine War medal for STONE, is on a wearing bar alongside a WW1Victory medal named 101869 Gnr J.E.Stone RA, He is listed as D.O.W. 2nd August, 1916 in France, the group continues with the 1939-45, Atlantic, Burma Stars and War Medal with MID wreath, the archive also contains a photo album, with shots of Stone and believed to be his Son, two pairs of Binoculars, one Naval issue, various loose photos, framed photo of Stone and believed to be his wife, books inc 'Semper Fidelis which features Stones actions, a large glazed Certificate for the award of the OBE, various documents Id, etc including Stones Passport, a nice silver hallmarked box with Stones Initials thereon, dated 1st July 1928, other pamphlets and items, all contained in a wooden chest
