Alfred Edward Sephton was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
On 18 May1941 in the Mediterranean, south of Crete, Petty Officer Sephton was a director layer on HMS Coventry when she went to the assistance of a hospital ship which was being attacked by German dive-bombers. When the enemy engaged Coventry, raking her with machine-gun fire, Petty Officer Sephton was mortally wounded, a bullet actually passing through his body and injuring an able seaman beside him. Although in great pain and partially blinded, nevertheless he stuck to his instruments and carried out his duties until the attack was over. He died of his injuries next day.
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AlfredEdwardSephton was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
On 18 May1941 in the Mediterranean, south of Crete, Petty Officer Sephton was a director layer on HMS Coventry when she went to the assistance of a hospital ship which was being attacked by German dive-bombers.
The medal was stolen from Coventry Cathedral in 1990.
As a result of the machine gunning however, Petty Officer Sephton was fatally wounded by a bullet which penetrated the director, passed though his body, and wounded A.B. Fisher who was communication number in the director.
Sephton knew that owing to the cramped space in the director and the difficulty of access he could not be relieved until the end of the action.
It is considered that Petty Officer Sephton's heroism in carrying on, and his fine example to Fisher may well have saved “Coventry” and “Aba” who were both attacked after Sephton had been wounded, the attacking aircraft being effectively repelled by “Coventry's” gunfire.
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