Germany, Third Reich. A Return Of Memel Commemorative Medal Auction Boatswain's Mate First Class Donald

Boatswain's Mate First Class Donald Owen Smith was initially declared "Missing in Action" on October 11

and the ensuing explosion caused the entire right side of the ship to burst into flames

Footnote: This type of badge worn from 1941 to 1943 by the Croat volunteers in the Italian sponsored Light Transport Regiment (Legione Croata Autotransportabile)

reverses inscribed with institution date of “16 Dezember 1938” and facsimile of the Führer and Reichskanzler

Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana

Germany, Third Reich. A Return Of Memel Commemorative Medal Auction Boatswain's Mate First Class Donald(Medaille zur Erinnerung an die Heimkehr des Memellandes). Constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, the obverse with two raised figures, one of which is clutching a flag and the other a length of broken chain, above a NSDAP style German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse with an inscription of ZUR ERINNERUNG AN DIE HEIMKEHR DES MEMELLANDES 22. MRZ 1939 (IN COMMEMORATION OF THE