A Collection of Medals The Property of a Gentleman
265
A Second World War D.S.C. group of nine awarded to Commander V. A. C. H. G. De Mauny, Royal Navy, a Gallipoli
veteran who won a “mention” for his gallantry off Dunkirk and was decorated for like services in patrol vessels in the
North Sea
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1945’, hallmarks for London 1947; 1914-15 STAR (Mid. V.
A. C. H. G. De Mauny, R.N.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (S. Lt. V. A. C. H. G. De Mauny, R.N.); 1939-45 STAR;
ATLANTIC STAR, clasp, France and Germany; DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS, M.I.D. oakleaf; CORONATION 1953, mounted court-style
as worn, the Great War awards polished, nearly very fine, the remainder very fine and better (9) £1800-2200
D.S.C. London Gazette 11 December 1945:
‘For distinguished service during the War in Europe.’
Victor Alexander Christian Henry George De Mauny was born in April 1899 and
entered the Royal Navy as a Midshipman aboard the battleship H.M.S. London in
August 1914, which appointment led to his active employment in the
Dardanelles, as per the following letter sent to his parents in May 1915: I am
sorry I have not written to you for such a long time but I have really not had the
time. Since I wrote to you last we have had some very exciting times.
On Saturday 24 April, we left our base with 600 Australian soldiers on board in
company with five other ships. At about 2.00 a.m. on Sunday we arrived off the
landing place on the Western coast of the Gallipoli Peninsula. We then
proceeded to land the troops in our boats. They had a pretty hot time from the
Turks who were ready waiting but eventually they took the ridge with the
bayonet. The Midshipman and the Coxswain of one of our boats were wounded.
At 10.00 a.m. I landed with two other Midshipmen with a beach party to assist in
the landing of the remainder of the troops and the stores. There was quite a lot of
shrapnel flying about from the Turks, and also bullets from the Turkish snipers,
but I am glad to say I was not touched although several men on the beach were. I
had in fact had several narrow escapes. I have got a Turkish shell which did not
explode and fell quite near us. We remained until Wednesday forenoon when
we were relieved. It was very good sport ashore except that we lived on biscuits
and corned beef until the Tuesday night ... ’
Removing to the battle cruiser Renown in September 1916, De Mauny was
advanced to Acting Sub. Lieutenant in May 1917 and joined the torpedo boat
destroyer Midge that August, and appears to have served in similar employ until
the end of hostilities. Shortly thereafter, in March 1919, he resigned his
commission, in order to take up employment as a tea planter in Ceylon.
Granted the emergency rank of Lieutenant-Commander on the renewal of hostilities, De Mauny lent gallant service during the
evacuation of Dunkirk and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 16 August 1940), the relevant recommendation stating:
‘Between noon on 30 May and 0815 on 4 June, he was continuously engaged under way on evacuation duties without any
intermission. Commanded in succession Ocean Breeze, Haig, and then as Navigator of a group of scoots in Pascholl. Brought back
more than 300 troops from Dunkirk beach in surf conditions on two separate occasions. Was notably more successful than other small
craft working in the same areas. On 31 May, when he was eight hours off the coast, subjected to air attack. Displayed great devotion to
duty under fire, and marked initiative; and was favourably reported upon by the Senior Officers on more than one occasion.’
By October 1940, De Mauny was serving in the destroyer Brighton (the ex-U.S.S. Cowell), and he appears to have remained similarly
employed until removing to the minesweeping sloop Saltburn in August 1941.
Transferring to the patrol vessel Mallard in March 1943, he would have been present at an action with several E-Boats off the east coast
in February 1944, and, no doubt, other incidents in the North Sea, prior to removing to his final wartime appointment the destroyer
Impulsive in July 1945. But it was for his services in the Mallard that he won his D.S.C.
Sold with original letter to his parents, as quoted above (H.M.S. London, 5 May 1915); H.M.S. Mallard greetings card with cartoon
caricatures of her officers; two ship’s “flimsies” (H.M.S. Fervent, September 1939 to June 1940; Senior Officer, 1st Corvette Flotilla,
Harwich, September 1944 to July 1945); a portrait photograph and a file of related research.
www.dnw.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236 |
Page 237 |
Page 238 |
Page 239 |
Page 240 |
Page 241 |
Page 242 |
Page 243 |
Page 244 |
Page 245 |
Page 246 |
Page 247 |
Page 248 |
Page 249 |
Page 250 |
Page 251 |
Page 252 |
Page 253 |
Page 254 |
Page 255 |
Page 256 |
Page 257 |
Page 258 |
Page 259 |
Page 260 |
Page 261 |
Page 262 |
Page 263 |
Page 264 |
Page 265 |
Page 266 |
Page 267 |
Page 268 |
Page 269 |
Page 270 |
Page 271 |
Page 272 |
Page 273 |
Page 274 |
Page 275 |
Page 276 |
Page 277 |
Page 278 |
Page 279 |
Page 280 |
Page 281 |
Page 282 |
Page 283 |
Page 284 |
Page 285