Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry H.M.S. Tiptoe - Far East 1945 - M.I.D.


Voyzey’s next appointment was in H.M. Submarine Tiptoe, which he joined on 30 April 1944. Built by Vickers Armstrong and curiously named by Winston Churchill, Tiptoe departed Portland for the Far East on 13 January 1945 under the command of Lieutenant Commander R. L. Jay. Tiptoe completed three successful war patrols off Burma and in the Java Sea between 13 May and 21 August 1945, during which a number of Japanese coasters, sea trucks, oilers and cargo vessels were sunk. Of note, on 1 June 1945, she sank the merchant cargo ship Tobi Maru off Matasiri Island in the Java Sea and came under sustained retaliation and was badly damaged, as recorded in the submarine’s log: ‘1338 hours - Masts were spotted bearing 190°. Lt. Jay commenced an attack. The target was estimated to be 2300 tons. During the approach on the target it was out of sight for about 20 minutes because of rain. After the target came in sight again it was noticed that she must have been stopped for some time. Also the target was steering erratically. When the target finally began steering a steady course Lt. Jay fired three stern torpedoes at 1525 hours. The target was hit by one torpedo in the engine room and began to sink stern first. It was now that the reason for the targets strange behaviour (stopping / erratic course) became apparent. She was having a rendezvous with an escort vessel that was coming from directly behind and now the escort closed in towards Tiptoe which went deep. In all 13 depth charges were dropped and all of them were fairly close. At 1650 hours the escort broke off the counter-attack. As a result of the counter attack all torpedo tubes were out of action due to air leaks. Also the Asdic was flooded as well as some minor damage to other things.’


Tiptoe’s biggest success, however, came on 3 August 1945, during her final patrol, when she torpedoed and sank the 4000 ton Japanese merchant vessel Tencho Maru whilst she was in convoy and defended by a patrol boat. As a result, Tiptoe once again came under sustained depth charge attack, this time while bottomed at a depth of just 40 feet. This again from the log: ‘1654 hours - Sighted a mast among the smoke. 1801 hours - The enemy could now be seen to be a 4000 tons merchant ship followed by a 3000 tons tanker and two escorts. Continued the attack. 1843 hours - Fired four torpedoes at the 4000 tons merchant ship. Two and a half minutes after firing the last torpedo a torpedo- explosion was heard giving a running range of 2900 to 3500 yards.


1903 hours - Two depth charges exploded fairly close while Tiptoe was on the bottom at 40 feet. 1905 hours - One depth charge exploded very close. 1907 hours - One depth charge exploded a bit further off. 1913 hours - Yet another depth charge, this time quite close. The escort however was not in contact with Tiptoe which was still bottomed at 40 feet. The escort was now circling Tiptoe and 'tapping' for all he was worth and at 1924 hours ran over Tiptoe dropping one depth charge that was way too close for comfort. Tiptoe now got off the bottom and ran away at full speed. The escort was still 'tapping' but did not come in for another attack.’


Leading Seaman Voyzey was Mentioned in Despatches for his service aboard H.M.S. Tiptoe and returned to Portsmouth in her at the conclusion of hostilities. Post-war, he served in H.M. Submarines Spirit and Thorough and a number of shore establishments until his dispersal from Drake on 13 March 1950.


www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)


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