A Second World War ‘Mediterranean’ D.S.C. group of six attributed to Lieutenant O. S. V. Waterlow, Royal Navy, who was killed in action on H.M. Submarine Talisman on 16 September 1942

Distinguished Service Cross, a replacement G.VI.R., 1st issue, reverse undated, hallmarks for London 1948, in Garrard, London case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf, all unnamed, extremely fine (6) £1000-1200

D.S.C. London Gazette 12 May 1942. ‘... for five Mediterranean War Patrols from August to December 1941’.

M.I.D. London Gazette 5 May 1942. ‘... for three Mediterranean War Patrols from September to November 1941’.

Lieutenant Oscar Stephen Verity Waterlow, Royal Navy, was mentioned in despatches in May 1942 for three Mediterranean War Patrols, during the period, September-November 1941, aboard the submarine Tetrarch. The submarine, built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and launched in November 1939, was sunk in the Western Mediterranean by unknown causes on 2 November 1941 while on passage from Malta to Gibraltar. He was awarded the D.S.C. in May 1942 for five Mediterranean War Patrols during the period August-December 1941, aboard the submarine Talisman. During that period, the Talisman sank three ships totalling 15,000 tons, two schooners by gun action, an escorted enemy supply ship of 15,000 tons, engaged in a gun action with an enemy U-boat scoring a hit on the conning tower, and, in company with the Torbay, had been on special operations, landing the Scottish Commando led by Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes in the raid upon General Rommel’s H.Q. in North Africa. For this same period of service, her Captain, Lieutenant-Commander M. Wilmott, was awarded the D.S.O. The Talisman, built by Cammell Laird and launched in January 1940, was sunk, possibly by a mine between Gibraltar and Malta in the Sicilian Channel on 16 September 1942. Sunk with all hands on the 16th, Lieutenant Waterlow was officially listed as having died on 18 September. His name is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial - he was the son of Ernest Oscar and Eva Minnie Waterlow of Walton-on-Thames.

Sold with original M.I.D. Certificate named to ‘Lieutenant Oscar Stephen Verity Waterlow, R.N., H.M.S. Talisman’, with original envelope adressed to ‘Mr & Mrs O. S. V. E. O. Waterlow, Engadine, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey’; also with M.I.D. emblem forwarding slip, dated 19 March 1945, and named to ‘Lt. O. S. V. Waterlow, R.N. Also with copied research.