Description A superb WW2 Submariners medal group to JX 234790 PO Albert Ernest Goodhead RN 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star (North Africa 1942-43 bar), Burma Star (Pacific bar), War Medal 1939-45. Along with associated ribbon bar and boxed Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, Elizabeth 2nd issue (Albert E Goodhead) Group Swing mounted as worn. These come with two fascinating annotated albums of wartime photos of submarines and other ships, some lost in action, as well as postcards of ports visited and later memorial events. Also with the above are an family associated WW1 British War Medal and Victory Medal to 171637 Gnr A E Barsted RA. This comes with a photo of the recipient and various Order of Oddfellows medals. Albert, known as Ernie, was born in Burton on Trent on the 25th of May 1923 the son of Albert and Rhoda Goodhead. Ernie joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Seaman on the 13th of November 1938. His occupation was shown as ‘General Clerk’. (His year of birth is shown as 1922 on his record of service). Following training at HMS Collingwood and HMS Pembroke he entered HMS Dolphin and the Submarine service in June 1940. HMS Cyclops (F31) (18/7/41-28/10/41) Ernie was sent to HMS Cyclops a submarine and depot ship for the 3rd Submarine Flotilla based in Harwich for a few weeks before being drafted to his first submarine. In October he is shown as being aboard submarine HMS H34, a WW1 veteran and was promoted to Able Seaman. HMS Graph (Captured U Boat ) 29/10/41-22/01/42 On the 29th of October Ernie was to serve for two patrols on HMS Graph. He qualified for Sub Service on the 29th of November and remained with the Graph. She had originally been a German U Boat, U-570, which following a successful attack from an RAF Hudson had surrendered and was taken to Iceland. Following repairs, the U boat was commissioned into the Royal Navy on the 5th of October 1941 as P715 and named HMS Graph ‘G’ to signify German. Ernie was aboard when the submarine was examined and tested to show the U boats capability. HMS Safari (P211) 23/01/42-14/05/42 HMS Safari was a S-Class Submarine commissioned in March 1942 so Ernie would have been part of the first crew to serve aboard her as she was put through her paces before heading to the Mediterranean. However, he was not to join her and was appointed to HMS Un ruffled (P46) at Holy Loch. HMS Unruffled (P46) 15/05/42-30/06/42 On the 16th of May P46 headed off to the coast of Norway for her first wartime patrol. Prohibited to surface during daylight hours P46 ended 90 miles off her given station and encountered a Norwegian submarine who was somewhat surprised to see her! HMS P222 (01/07/42-28/2/43) Ernie joined P222 where she operated patrols from Gibraltar. On the 23rd of July she was ordered to intercept the Vichy French vessel Mitidja . Once intercepted the vessel was fired upon with six rounds from the Submarine. As a Gunner, Ernie was no doubt participating in this. A boarding party was sent to the ship. Ernie’s photo album has many original photos of this incident where he also states the first Lieutenant was knifed during the boarding process. There is a photo of a friend, PO Fred Dunkinson, who was part of the boarding party. (Later lost with the crew of HMS P 222). The Matidja was escorted to Gibraltar by HMS Wrestler and pursued by France vessels. P222 returned to Gibraltar. On the 2nd of August 1942 P222 headed to the Sicilian coast to give cover as part of Operation Pedestal the vital convoys sent to supply Malta. Ernie has several photos from this period taken from P222 during this operation. These include five HMS Eagle (Aircraft Carrier) under way and later sinking after being torpedoed. There are also photos of HMS Liverpool, badly damaged by bombers in June 1942 on a Malta convoy, she was towed back to port by HMS Wolverine. Three interesting photos show HMS Gallant with her bow blown off after hitting a mine. There are also photos of Merchant Navy survivors being rescued in August 1942 and U boat survivors taken though a periscope. In September and October P222 completed various patrols including a reconnaissance of landing beaches east of Oran for Operation Torch (The Invasion of French North Africa in Nov 1942). In November she survived a depth charge attack by a French vessel. P222 failed to return from a patrol in December 1942. Ernie’s papers still show him aboard P222 until 28/02/42 so it is likely he had a miraculous escape being ashore or aboard HMS Maidstone the submarine depot ship in Algiers. Ernie has pictures of Algiers in his album along with an original leaflet dropped by the Germans in November 1942. HMS Tribune (N76) 01/03/43-03/11/43) On the 3/3/43 HMS Tribune arrived at Gibraltar where Ernie, now promoted to Leading Seaman, joined her. On the 22/3/43 she torpedoed and damaged (possibly sank) the tanker President Herrenschmidt west of San Lucido in Italy. Tribune was then attacked by escorting vessels and aircraft, depth charged and sank 320 feet due to a damaged ballast tank. On the 30/3/43 Tribune attacked an Italian Transport named Benevenito but failed to hit with the three torpedoes fired however the vessel was sunk the next day by MTBs. On the 3rd of May she headed back to the UK. After 18 war patrols her engines needed attention. She reached Plymouth on the 23rd of May. There are several photos of the crew of Tribune taken in 1943 which identify Ernie and other members of the crew. Ernie took the opportunity of his time at home to marry Joyce Girling in Burton on Trent. HMS Tudor (P326) 04/11/43-12/02/46 HMS Tudor was commissioned in December 1943 shortly after Ernie joined her. The vessel underwent normal sea trials and training to prepare for her first war patrol. He was recommended for promotion to Petty Officer on the 20th of November. Finally on the 16th of May she headed from Loch Holy to Gibraltar arriving on the 29th of May. Ernie was promoted to Petty Office on the 17th of May. On the 6th of June she headed to Malta in convoy before proceeding to Port Said and the Suez Canal arriving in Trincomalee via Aden on the 16th of July 1944. A further period of training ensued before Tudor headed to the coast of Sumatra on the 17/18th August where she landed and recovered beach reconnaissance parties. On the 22nd of August she sank a Junk by gunfire North of Sumatra before landing a recon party the following day at Bireuen. Her first patrol completed Tudor returned to Trincomalee on the 30th. The 19th of September saw Tudor head to the west coast of Siam laying mines on the night of the 24th of September before returning to Trincomalee once more. The 16th of November 1944 Tudor was again patrolling the coast of Sumatra when she surfaced to attack a Japanese vessel by gunfire. Firing 12 rounds the Jap vessel was hit and started to list. During this action a Jap seaplane attacked the sub as she dived to 48 feet causing damage to some of her gauges. Once more Tudor surfaced and again attacked the same Japanese vessel which was now aground. 20 rounds were fired resulting in further damage which set the vessel on fire before the sub retired to sea and returned to Trincomalee. On the 15th of December Tudor headed to the coast of Burma sinking a sailing vessel by gunfire on the 22nd.The Submarine’s Captain, Lt S. A. Porter DSC. allowed the crew to abandon the vessel before completing the bombardment causing the vessel to explode. On the 24th of December she sank two more sailing vessels, one of which was suspected of carrying ammunition causing her to explode. The attack was paused on the first vessel to allow the crew to leave the vessel, which unfortunately they chose not to do. The crew of the second vessel did in fact leave their vessel before it finally sank. Christmas Day 1944 saw the Tudor destroy another two sailing vessels. Again, both crews decided to remain with their vessels despite Lt Porter giving them the opportunity to leave. The next action took place on the 29th of December when a Japanese Junk was destroyed. Tudor returned to port. On the 30th of January HMS Tudor departed Trincomalee for the last time heading to Freemantle, Australia arriving on the 13th of February 1945.Following further exercises she headed to the South China Sea on the 7th of March. On the 22nd of March a convoy of two small merchant vessels was located and attacked by torpedoes, all of which missed their target. The convoy’s escorts then attacked Tudor with depth charges all of which missed their mark. The following day the same convoy was located and Tudor prepared to attack. Unfortunately, the USS sub Boarfish was also in the area and was spotted causing the convoy changed direction thus spoiling Tudor’s attack. The rest of the day saw both submarines evading attention by the escort vessels. On the 15th of April Tudor returned to Freemantle. Further patrols were completed in May/June/July to the Eastern part of the Java Sea. On the 23rd of July a schooner was sighted carrying oil drums. Once again Tudor allowed the crew to abandon ship before sinking the vessel with gunfire. This was followed by the sinking of two sea trucks on the 29th of July. On the 22nd of August Tudor headed home via Aden, the Suez Canal, Port Said and Gibraltar. On the 5th of October HMS Tudor reached Portsmouth. (The telegram sent by Ernie from Gibraltar on the last leg of the trip home is in his photo album). There are various photos of the trip home including the arrival of Tudor at Portsmouth. Ernie Goodhead was released on the 14th of February 1946 and signed onto the Submarine Reserve until the 13th of February1952.He had survived the whole war in the submarine service. Condition – GVF NOTE: Sorry we cannot accept payment by PayPal for this item, We can accept payment by Credit / Debit Card, Bank Transfer or Cheque.
