GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY
Again they were deceived by the speed of the ship and the streams of cannon shells nearly all missed their target. Only two shells struck, causing insignificant damage. Captain Pemberton was heading rapidly to the south east, hoping to hide his ship in the gloom of approaching night. Once again the five Mysteres formed line ahead and swooped down on the Crane's starboard side from 6,000 feet. This time they released clusters of small bombs which burst all around the ship's stern. Spray from the explosions drenched Roy and his new Number Two, but again they succeeded in firing several bursts. The rocket attack had inflicted widespread damage on the frigate's hull, destroyed a depth-charge thrower, and cut various electrical circuits and water mains. Splinters had sprayed over the decks, and some even fell on the compass platform, but none of the damage was serious. Her fighting efficiency was only slightly impaired and she continued away from the coast at 17 knots into the protection of full darkness.
Damage to the attacking aircraft is less easy to quantify. During the second attack, one of the Mysteres was seen to be hit and emit smoke. It is believed that this aircraft subsequently caught fire while returning to its base in southern Israel. The pilot, Major Benny Peled, baled out over the Sinai desert and, although injured when landing, managed to evade capture by the Egyptian soldiers who had seen his parachute descent. He hid in the dunes until, some hours later, the pilot of a Piper light "search and rescue" aircraft found him. Its pilot daringly came down within 500 yards of an Egyptian encampment and Peled was whisked away to safety. When the Mysteres made their third run over the Crane, dropping bombs, one of their number took a direct hit. Shedding pieces of airframe, it was seen to fall ahead of the Crane and crash into the sea. Shortly afterwards the ship passed a column of flame and oily smoke rising from a patch of burning fuel. Captain Pemberton claimed this one as "definitely destroyed". The Israeli Air Force has subsequently declined to confirm or deny that any of its aircraft were hit or lost during the attack. Unofficially, one of its senior officers has since stated that the second Mystere did indeed fall into the sea but its pilot managed to eject and paddle his way ashore in a rubber dinghy.
The incident was remarkable in several ways. That day, 3rd November 1956, witnessed the first occasion when a British naval ship had been attacked by modern swept-wing supersonic jet aircraft. It was the first time that such aircraft were shot down by naval gunfire. And it was almost certainly the first when a Royal Navy gunner was decorated for having shot down a "friendly" aircraft of any kind. Much to his surprise, Roy Loader was recommended for the award of the Distinguished Service Medal. It was one of only two such awards resulting from the Suez war, the other D.S.M. being awarded to a Leading Seaman aboard HMS Newfoundland, both for Operation Toreador.
Sold with comprehensive copied research material and the following original documentation: i. Royal Navy Certificate of Service.
ii. Admiralty letter announcing award of D.S.M., dated 13 June 1957.
iii. Notification from the Central Chancery to attend investiture at Buckingham Palace on 19 November 1957. iv. Admiralty charts showing the location of the engagement.
82
A scarce Great War ‘1916’ M.M. and Bar awarded to Sergeant G. P. Evans, 1st Siege Company, Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers
MILITARYMEDAL, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (5779 A. Sjt: G. P. Evans. 1/Sge: Co: R. Mon: R.E.-S.R.) very fine
£700-900
M.M. London Gazette 3 June 1916. M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 23 August 1916.
George P. Evans served during the Great War with the 1st Siege Company, Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers, in the French theatre of war from 3 November 1914. The following detail is provided in Low and Everett’s regimental history:
‘The Company landed at Havre on the 3rd November, 1914. After a short period on the Lines of Communication to allow it to shake down it was sent to II Army. On the 25th December, 1914, the Company was sent to 5th Div. in the line to reinforce a sorely tried Field Coy. (59 Fd. Coy.) in front of Wulverghem, and at once began to build up a reputation for good work and reliability. It next temporarily relieved 59 Field Company for six weeks in the line, until, in the early spring of 1915, it was sent to II Corps. From then until the Armistice in 1918, it remained with various Corps (with the exception of a short spell in 1917 with the 62nd Div.) employed on the multitudinous tasks which fell to the lot of Corps Troops Engineers.
From July 1915 until May 1916, the Company was with XIV Corps in the Ypres salient. During this period, the greater part of the Company’s work consisted of wiring, construction of dug-outs and of forward “O.P.s” (Observation Posts) for the R.A. for the use of the Gunner F.O.O.s. (Forward Observation Officers). For this work the Company was dispersed in detachments over the whole of the Corps front, at the disposal of the Commander Corps Artillery (“Brig. Gen. R.A.”). The work was laborious and much of it had to be done at night. These O.P.s were constructed of reinforced concrete, and for the last part of the journey all materials, etc., had to be carried by hand up the communication trenches. There were also times when it was nerve-wracking in the extreme.
Nevertheless, a first-class job was done and these O.P.s survived many direct hits by shells of various sizes, without, in many cases, unduly hindering the work of the F.O.O. inside!
For this work, the Company received two awards of the M.C. (Vyvyan-Robinson and Bence-Jones) and some fifteen awards and mentions to other ranks.
In July, 1916, the Company having been sent to 1st Anzac Corps, was moved south to the neighbourhood of Albert. The Somme Battle started on 1st July and the concentration of troops in the Corps Areas was very heavy. Water supply for men and horses was a major undertaking and, as the slow advance took place, pipe lines had to be pushed forward and maintained, and roads repaired and constructed. The Company was employed on these and kindred tasks. When the Germans retired to the “Hindenburg Line” in March, 1917, demands on the sappers increased, but they were assisted by large infantry working parties as the fighting had died down. It is interesting to note that up to the end of 1917, the Company had been attached to the following formations :—1st Anzac, Canadian, V. IV, XIII, VI Corps, 62 Div.’
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