Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 46
A Second War D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Leading Seaman J. H. Knowles, Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Reserve, who was decorated for services aboard the anti-aircraft ship H.M.S. Goatfell, in 1944
Distinguished Service Medal,
G.VI.R. (L.S., J. H. Knowles. C/J. 93450); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Imperial Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Joseph Henry Knowles D.S.M.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G. VI.R., 1st issue (J.93450 (CH. B. 22697) J. H. Knowles L.S. R.F.R.) nearly extremely fine (7)
£800-£1,200
D.S.M. London Gazette 1 January 1945: ‘For gallantry or outstanding service in the face of the enemy, or for zeal, patience and cheerfulness in dangerous waters and for setting an example of wholehearted devotion to duty, upholding the high traditions of the Royal Navy’
A newspaper article from the Shields Daily News dated 11 January 1945 states: ‘For his services with a British gunboat during the Normandy invasion, Leading Seaman Joseph Henry Knowles, of North Shields, has won the Distinguished Service Medal. He wears it beside the British War Medal, which he earned as a boy in 1918, the Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service Medal and the 1939-45 Star. The D.S.M. was awarded, states the citation, “For zeal, patience and cheerfulness in dangerous waters, and for setting an example of wholehearted devotion to duty, upholding the high tradition of the Royal Navy.” Leading Seaman Knowles, who, like his wife, is a native of Tyneside, joined the Navy in 1918, when he was fifteen and a half. He was in the cruiser H.M.S. Coventry when she visited German ports with members of the Allied Commission. Later he served in the battleships Commonwealth, Benbow and Valiant in China and Mediterranean waters. During the trouble between the Greeks and Turks in the early nineteen twenties he served with the Naval field gun crews landed at Chanak, in the Dardanelles. After leaving the Navy in 1933 he became a postman driver at North Shields Post Office. Mobilisation in 1939 saw him back in seaman’s uniform again. Normandy was not the first sight Knowles had of the other side of the Channel during this war. During the Dunkirk evacuation he had the job of helping to sink a blockship close in shore.’
Joseph Henry Knowles was born on 1 May 1903 in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 17 October 1918. During the inter-war period he served in a large number of Cruisers and Battleships including H.M. Ships Coventry, Commonwealth, Emperor of India, Benbow, Weymouth, Colombo, Ajax, Danae, Valiant and Frobisher. Promoted Leading Seaman on 28 February 1929, he joined the Royal Fleet Reserve in May 1933. The resumption of hostilities saw him recalled for service, still in the rate of Leading Seaman, stationed initially at H.M.S. Pembroke I from 31 August 1939 and he joined the ship’s company of H.M.S. Goatfell on 6 May 1941. Goatfell was the former steam packet ship Caledonia, built in 1934. She was requisitioned for naval service in September 1939, renamed Goatfell and armed with a 12 pounder gun and light weapons. She was converted for use as a minesweeper, being assigned to the 11th Minesweeping Flotilla and around 1941/42 she was converted to an anti-aircraft ship and given a number of close range anti-aircraft guns. Knowles was awarded the D.S.M. for services aboard H.M.S. Goatfell and he remained with her until 26 June 1945, at which time he joined the 6th Submarine Flotilla’s depot ship, H.M.S. Elfin.
Knowles was released class A on 6 November 1945 and his I.S.M. was awarded in 1965 on his retirement from the North and South Shield Post Office (London Gazette 26 February 1965).
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
