Naval General Service Medal clasp Palestine 1936-1939 named M 38278 J H MARKHAM SY CPO RN, 1939/45, Atlantic & Africa Stars all unnamed as issued, War Medal unnamed as issued & Naval Long Service & Good Conduct Medal named M 38278 J H MARKHAM SY PO HMS ILEX. All mounted on a bar for wear.
John Henry Markham born 7th Aug 1905 in Portsmouth enlisted as a Boy 2nd Class on 26 July 1922 aged only 16 years old. He was on HMS Impregnable for training until July 1923 on HMS Bachau rising to the rank of Able Seaman when he signed for 12 years service. Shore duty on HMS Victory I & II till Sept 1926. Now on HMS Renown till Oct 1927 when he joined HMS Westminster till Jan 1929. He is now in the Supply branch and on HMS Westminster again and then HMS Resource in Jan 1930, HMS Hood in Aug 1933 till May 1934 when he joined HMS Hawkins as a Supply Petty Office till May 1937. He now joins HMS ilex a I-Class destroyer till Jan 1941. In this time HMS ilex has had an eventful time during WW2, she helped sink U42 submarine 13th Oct 1939 off Fastnet, Malta duties in June 1940 helping sink the Italian submarine Console Generale Luzzi near Crete, late June 1940 help sinking another Italian submarine Uebi Scebeli near Crete. July 1940 helping sink the Italian destroyer Bartolomeo Colleoni off Cape Spade. Acting as screening destroyer during the attack on the Italian fleet at Taranto on 11th Nov 1940 and then back to Malta convoy duties Aug to Nov 1940. He received his LS&GC in May 1938 and left HMS ilex in Jan 1941. He is a gap in his service papers till Nov 1945 when he is released from HMS Daedalus after the war has ended.
