Lot 176
WW2 Canadian Memorial Cross ‡
Clandestine Operations - Inc The D.J. Croll Medal Collection & Other Properties | M26002
Auction: 16 September 2026 at 10.30 BST
Description
The World War Two Canadian Memorial Cross awarded to Lieutenant Commander Percival Francis Mayow De Freitas, Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, who was Killed in Action on the 20th of September 1943 when H.M.C.S St. Croix was torpedoed whilst with convoy ON.202, St Croix was torpedoed and sunk by U 305, south of Iceland. Of her crew of 149, five officers and 76 men were rescued by H.M.S. Itchen, but only one of these survived the loss of Itchen on 23 Sep 1943. Comprising Canadian Memorial Cross, GVIR, Ribbon and Ring suspension, (Lieut. Cdr. P.F.M. De Freitas R.C.N.R.). very fine (1)
H.M.C.S. St. Croix was commissioned on 30 Apr 1919; she operated with the Atlantic Fleet as U.S.S. McCook until placed in reserve at Philadelphia in 1922. Re-commissioned in Dec 1939, she again served with the Atlantic Fleet prior to being transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy at Halifax as H.M.C.S. St. Croix on 24 Sep 1940. She sailed for the U.K. via St. John's on 30 Nov 1940 but ran into a hurricane and had to return. Arriving at Halifax on 18 Dec 1940, she remained under repair until mid-Mar 1941, when she took up the role of local escort. In Aug 1941, she joined N.E.F., escorting convoys to Iceland. In May 1942, following six months' refit at Saint John, N.B., she escorted her first convoy, SC.84, to the U.K., and was thereafter employed constantly on the "Newfie-Derry" run. In Apr 1943, she was assigned to EG C-1, and in Jun 1943 to C-5. During this period, she sank U 90 while escorting convoy ON.113 on 24 Jul 1942, and on 04 Mar 1943, while accompanying convoy KMS.10 from Britain to Algeria, she assisted H.M.C.S. Shediac in destroying U-87. In Aug 1943, St. Croix was allocated to support group EG 9 for an offensive against U-boats crossing the Bay of Biscay, but the group was diverted to the assistance of a series of convoys beset by U-boats in the Atlantic. While thus engaged, with convoy ON.202, St. Croix was torpedoed and sunk by U 305 on 20 Sep 1943, south of Iceland. Of her crew of 149, five officers and 76 men were rescued by H.M.S. Itchen, but only one of these survived the loss of Itchen on 23 Sep 1943.
Percival Francis Mayow De Freitas was born on the 28th of November 1899. The son of Sir Anthony De Freitas and Maud (nee Short) De Freitas of Barbados, British West Indies.
He enlisted as a Midshipman in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on the 3rd of September 1917 and served until demobilised on the 18th of November 1919. On the 21st of June 1923 he was awarded the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. In early 1941 he was appointed Lieutenant (Temporary) in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve serving aboard Vancouver, and by mid-year on Naden. He took Command of Vancouver on the 18th of July 1942 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander (Acting) on St. Croix on the 2nd of July 1943.
He is Commemorated on the Halifax Memorial; Panel 6. He was the husband of Olive De Freitas of Victoria British Columbia he was 43 years old.
He is also entitled to the British War and Victory Medals, as well as World War Two Campaign Sars and Medals, the Memorial Cross was made by Birks and is marked Sterling.
Sold with copy Service Papers, Copy Navy List entries, genealogical information and Commonwealth War Graves Information
