Description
Physical description
Light brown corduroy board with black ribbon embroidered with H.M. EDINBURGH
Label
Cap tally worn by Bailey who was injured when the Edinburgh was torpedoed during Arctic Convoy PQ 14. It is unclear whether he was injured in the first torpedo attack of 30 April 1942 (by U456), which left the ship floating but crippled, or the second torpedo attack (by German destroyers) of 2 May 1942, while she was being towed by two British destroyers (HMS Foresight and HMS Forrester). HMS Edinburgh was finally sunk by a torpedo from Foresight, all crew having been taken off beforehand. Two crew were killed in the 2 May action.
Bailey spent several months convalescing in the Soviet military hospital at Vaenga, near Murmansk (the Royal Navy Auxiliary Hospital at Vaenga did not become operational until October 1942). During this period Bailey was issued with a Soviet sailor's uniform to wear (held by IWM). Despite the severe restrictions placed on Allied personnel on Russian territory (they were basically confined to their wards) Bailey greatly admired the toughness and tenacity of the Soviets fighting and living in the Russian Arctic.
By 1944 Bailey was back in Royal Navy service aboard HMS Mauritius (as a Sub-Lieutenant Radar). Bailey retired from naval service in 1962 at the rank of Commander. He was awarded the OBE.
History note
Cap tally worn by Bailey who was injured when the Edinburgh was torpedoed during Arctic Convoy PQ 14. It is unclear whether he was injured in the first torpedo attack of 30 April 1942 (by U456), which left the ship floating but crippled, or the second torpedo attack (by German destroyers) of 2 May 1942, while she was being towed by two British destroyers (HMS Foresight and HMS Forrester). HMS Edinburgh was finally sunk by a torpedo from Foresight, all crew having been taken off beforehand. Two crew were killed in the 2 May action.
Bailey spent several months convalescing in the Soviet military hospital at Vaenga, near Murmansk (the Royal Navy Auxiliary Hospital at Vaenga did not become operational until October 1942). During this period Bailey was issued with a Soviet sailor's uniform to wear (held by IWM). Despite the severe restrictions placed on Allied personnel on Russian territory (they were basically confined to barracks) Bailey greatly admired the toughness and tenacity of the Soviets fighting and living in the Russian Arctic.
By 1944 Bailey was back in Royal Navy service aboard HMS Mauritius (as a Sub-Lieutenant Radar). Bailey retired from naval service in 1962 at the rank of Commander. He was awarded the OBE.
Further details, including a wartime photograph of Bailey in his Soviet uniform, held on donor file.
Inscription
H.M.S. EDINBURGH