Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 98


A fine Second War ‘Norway’ 1940 D.S.M. group of eight awarded to Chief Petty Officer A. A. Beeson, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallantry aboard H.M.S. Suffolk, when over a period of 8 hours, she was attacked by waves of German aircraft during her retreat back to Scapa Flow


Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (J.86401. A. A. Beeson. C.P.O. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.86401. A. A. Beeson. Boy.1 R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (J.86401. A. A. Beeson. P.O. H.M.S. Boscawen.) contact marks to the pre-Second War awards, these nearly very fine; the Second War awards nearly extremely fine (8)


£1,000-£1,400 D.S.M. London Gazette 4 October 1940: ‘For gallantry and devotion to duty when engaged with enemy aircraft off the Coast of Norway.’


Alfred Alick Beeson was born in Hungerford, Berkshire, on 3 January 1903. His service for the Great War is unknown, however his Continuous Service record from ADM363, picks up his service as a Leading Seaman aboard H.M.S. Warspite on 23 January 1929. Serving aboard this ship until 3 January 1931, he served on a number of other ships up until 1937, having been promoted Petty Officer in 1934 and being awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 26 February 1936. On 1 January 1937, he joined H.M.S. Suffolk and was promoted Chief Petty Officer in August 1938, serving with this ship until June 1940.


In April 1940 H.M.S. Suffolk participated in the Norwegian Campaign, sinking the German tanker Skagerrak on the 14 April. On 17 April H.M.S. Suffolk and four destroyers, with support from the Royal Air Force, were sent to bombard the airfield at Stavanger -Sola, Norway, under the codename Operation Duck. The attack had little effect on enemy positions; however, on withdrawing the British Squadron was attacked by waves of German aircraft. With too few R.A.F. aircraft to support the withdrawing squadron against overwhelming numbers of German aircraft, the beleaguered squadron had to beat off attacks with their anti aircraft guns. H.M.S. Suffolk, the larger of the five ships, being the only Cruiser, was particularly targeted, fending off attacks for 8 hours. Eventually the squadron managed to struggle back to Scapa Flow. H.M.S. Suffolk herself had been severely damaged and seventy of her crew were either killed or wounded. It was for gallantry during these air attacks that Beeson was awarded the D.S.M.


After time on shore, Beeson joined H.M.S. Nile on 7 August 1941. He was released from service on 22 October 1945, and his service record also notes ‘Commended for courage. C in C Western approaches P1544 of 13 June 1945.’


99


A superb Malta Force ‘K’ D.S.M. awarded to Chief Ordnance Officer H. J. Bishop, H.M.S. Aurora, for the night action attack on the Duisberg Convoy in which 12 out of 14 enemy ships were destroyed on 8/9th November 1941


Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (M.36232 H. J. Bishop, C.O.A. H.M.S. Aurora) impressed naming; British War and Victory Medals (57784 Pte. H. J. Bishop. Hamps. R.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue (M.36232 H. J. Bishop O.A,1, H.M.S. London.) good very fine


£1,800-£2,200


D.S.M. London Gazette 24 February 1942: ‘For gallantry, skill and resolution in a brilliant night action South of Otranto, against odds, in which, without hurt or loss to the Royal Navy, ten enemy Supply Ships were wholly destroyed, one Destroyer sunk, and at least one other badly damaged.’


Chief Ordnance Officer Harold James Bishop, H.M.S. Aurora.


Bishop’s award was for an epic action on the night of 8th to 9th November 1941, in which Aurora won her nickname the “Silver Phantom” when, as part of the famous Force ‘K’, and operating from Malta it engaged an enemy convoy, the Beta, otherwise known as the Duisberg Convoy. Force ‘K’, made up of Aurora, Penelope, and destroyers Lance and Lively, intercepted an Italian convoy some 130 miles miles south-west of Calabria, bound from Naples to Tripoli. The Italian destroyer Fulmine was sunk as well as the German transports Duisberg and San Marco, the Italian transports Maria, Sagitta and RinaCorrado, and the Italian Conte di Misurata and Minatitlan. The Italian destroyers Grecale and Euro were damaged, as well as the Libeccio.


Then, on the first day of December, she sank the Italian supply ship Adriatico and the tanker Iridio Mantovani, and the destroyer Alvise da Mosto. A little over two weeks later, however, the “Silver Phantom” was mined off Tripoli, and made her way to Malta for repairs, and thence to Liverpool, enduring enemy raids and near misses at Valetta in the interim.


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