Lot 3058
WW2 submarine interest - archive of ephemera and photographs relating to submariner Petty Officer (l...
WW2 submarine interest - archive of ephemera and photographs relating to submariner Petty Officer (later Lieutenant) Thomas William Gould V.C. of HMSub Thrasher; predominantly post-war with later copies of contemporary photographs and documents including Certificate of Service in slip-case, War Patrol Reports, First Day Covers, press cuttings, 'For Valour' film script, business cards etc.
Auctioneer's Note: An extract from Gould's VC award citation reads "On February 16th, in daylight, HM Submarine Thrasher attacked and sank a heavily escorted supply ship. She was at once attacked by depth-charges and was bombed by aircraft. The presence of two unexploded bombs in the gun-casing was discovered when after dark the submarine surfaced and began to roll. Lieutenant Roberts and Petty Officer Gould volunteered to remove the bombs, which were of a type unknown to them. The danger in dealing with the second bomb was very great. To reach it they had to go through the casing, which was so low that they had to lie at full length to move in it. Through this narrow space, in complete darkness, they pushed and dragged the bomb for a distance of some 20 feet until it could be lowered over the side. Every time the bomb was moved there was a loud twanging noise as of a broken spring which added nothing to their peace of mind. This deed was more gallant as HM Submarine Thrasher's presence was known to the enemy; she was close to the enemy coast and in waters where his patrols were known to be active day and night. There was a very great chance, and they knew it, that the submarine might have to crash-dive while they were under the casing. Had this happened they must have been drowned."
10033
SOLD £100