Jack 'Spud' Yates, who was born in Oldham on September 13, 1918, received four impressive medals during his service in the Royal Navy, including an extremely rare Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. Jack and three others, Stoker Marten, Stoker 'Ginger' Elliot and Stoker 'Jock' Hendren, were tasked with dealing the hot, cramped and noisy boiler room when the room was hit by a shell from the Japanese battleship. As a result, he stayed in the boiler room and later recalled: "In a panic, crisis, call it what you will, things don’t actually turn out as laid down by the book." While Jack and Marten were hospitalised with severe burns, Marten died from his injuries days later and meant Jack was the sole survivor of No 1 boiler room. Earlier this week, Petty Officer Jack Yates' medals went to auction and fetched a hammer price of £12,000 though were estimated to cost up to £16,000.

Source: The Times February 15, 2024 05:20 UTC