GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY
831
A good Second World War D.S.M. awarded to Able Seaman N. Billington, Royal Navy, for gallantry in the Coastal
Forces control frigate H.M.S. Riou in actions against E-Boats in the North Sea in early 1945
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, G.VI.R. (A.B. N. Billington, P/JX. 357608), extremely fine £1000-1200
D.S.M. London Gazette 15 May 1945.
‘For bravery, daring and skill whilst serving in H.M. ships Riou and Seymour and H.M.C. Motor Torpedo Boat 743 in successful
engagements with enemy E-Boats.’
The original recommendation states:
‘During the night of 20-21 February 1945, H.M.S. Riou and Coastal Forces units controlled by her, engaged four separate groups of four
E-Boats within the space of two hours, driving them all away from the swept channels. On the night of 24-25 February, three groups of
E-Boats were similarly engaged, one E-Boat being stopped and subsequently sunk during the engagements, 22 prisoners being taken.
On the night of 28 February-1 March, two groups of E-Boats were engaged and driven off by Riou and Coastal Forces controlled by her,
the E-Boats suffering damage.
This rating is a Radar Operator using American-type S.L. Radar in H.M.S. Riou. During the above engagements Billington was
outstanding in his accuracy and coolness in interpreting an extremely complex scan and reporting to the plot. At times he had to
recognise and report as many as five targets at one time, all these targets moving at high speed, merging and separating as interceptions
were made and actions broken off. He did not make one single mistake in his reports. This feat required calm and detachment on the
part of Billington, combined with a quick and accurate memory, at a time when the ship was proceeding at full power with frequent
alterations of course with the additional distractions of frequent gunfire from our own main armament and continuous R./T. chatter
close to his position.’
Norman Billington was decorated for his services in the captain-class frigate H.M.S. Riou, an ex-U.S.N. ship which was loaned to the
Royal Navy in late 1943. She was subsequently deployed in the North Sea and Channel as a Coastal Forces control ship, but before she
could be appropriately refitted, lent valuable service off Normandy during Operation “Neptune”, acting as an escort to the Rodney and
Warspite.
On joining the Coastal Forces Control Flotilla (C.F.C.F.) at the end of 1944, Riou was commanded by Lieutenant Ian “Griff” Griffiths, D.
S.C., R.N., one of a number of experienced ex-Coastal Forces officers brought in to command ships of the C.F.C.F., himself having won
a D.S.C. and a brace of “mentions” in the 1st Steam Gun Boat Flotilla. And as result of the above cited actions fought by Riou in early
1945, he was to add a Bar to his decoration - and Billington gain his D.S.M. Not mentioned above is an earlier action fought by the
Riou on the night of 22-23 January, when an E-Boat attempted to ram her, the enemy getting sufficiently close to tear off some of the
frigate’s stern rail guards.
One of the Riou’s final duties was to escort a number of U-Boats that had surrendered at Hamburg in May 1945, thereby giving her the
distinction of being the first Allied ship to pass through the Kiel Canal since the outbreak of war. And first among her visitors on her
arrival was Field Marshal Montgomery, who ordered Lieutenant Griffiths to “Splice the Main Brace”.
832
A rare Great War M.M. and Bar group of four awarded to Corporal J. A. Guy, 1st Anzac Wireless Section and 2nd
Divisional Signal Company, Australian Engineers, late 19th and 4th Battalions, Australian Imperial Force, a Gallipoli
veteran who was decorated for gallant deeds on the Somme
MILITARY MEDAL, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (2269 Sapr. J. A. Guy, A. Wireless Sec. Aust. E.); 1914-15 STAR (2269 Pte.
J. A. Guy, 19/Bn. A.I.F.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (2269 Cpl. J. A. Guy, 19 Bn. A.I.F.), one or two edge bruises but
otherwise generally very fine (4) £3000-4000
M.M. London Gazette 9 July 1917. The original joint recommendation, dated 12 May 1917, states:
‘Near Bullecourt on 3 May 1917, this N.C.O. and man went forward under heavy fire to establish an amplifyer post which they
succeeded in doing and in maintaining communication at a time when it was of vital importance. The position had not been
consolidated and they were obliged to stand for ten counter-attacks during which time they took four prisoners.’
Bar to M.M. London Gazette 14 January 1918.
John Alfred Guy enlisted in Sydney in May 1915 and was posted to the 19th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. Embarked for Egypt in
H.M.A.T. Argyllshire that September, he would have witnessed active service in the Gallipoli peninsula prior to his unit’s withdrawal at
the end of the year, not least in the 19th’s defined sphere of operations in the defence of Pope’s Hill.
Attached to the 4th Battalion in Egypt in early 1916, Guy was embarked for France in March of that year, and is believed to have
served in the same unit until his transfer to the 1st Anzac Wireless Section in March 1917, a period encompassing further active service
on the Somme and in the Ypres salient. Having then been awarded his first M.M. for the above cited deeds near Bullecourt in May of
1917, Guy was taken on the strength of the 2nd Divisional Signal Company in the following month, with whom he added a Bar to his
M.M. before the year’s end. Advanced to Corporal in May 1918, he remained actively employed in France until the end of hostilities
and was embarked for Australia in April 1919.
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