A fine Second World War Malta convoy D.S.M. group of six awarded to Petty Officer A. V. Edwards, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallantry aboard H.M.S. Kenya in “Operation Pedestal”, which ship was torpedoed and much shot about: but Edwards was no stranger to enemy fire, having witnessed numerous direct hits from the Graf Spee’s 11-inch guns in H.M.S. Exeter during the Battle of the River Plate

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (JX. 133610 A. V. Edwards, T./A./P.O.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue (JX. 133610 A. V. Edwards, D.S.M., Dev. 17474 P.O., R.F.R.), together with presentation silver pocket watch for the Battle of the River Plate, the inside of the case engraved, ‘Presented to Albert Edwards of H.M.S. Exeter by His fellow Townspeople of Llantrisant, 9 March 1940’, in its Crouch of Cardiff case, complete with leather watch fob, and a piece of shrapnel from the same action, good very fine and better (8) £3500-4000

D.S.M. London Gazette 10 November 1942:

‘For bravery and dauntless resolution while serving in H.M. ships ... Kenya ... and H.M. aircraft carriers, merchantmen and oilers when an important convoy was fought through to Malta in the face of relentless attacks by day and night from enemy submarines, aircraft and surface forces.’

The original recommendation states:

‘For a fine example of courage and endurance in the face of the enemy, he manned the gun in place of a mortally wounded man and maintained a steady and determined control of his weapon in face of heavy attack and then rendered highly skilled first aid to the wounded man.’

“Exeter” and the Battle of the River Plate

Albert Victor Edwards joined the ship’s company of H.M.S. Exeter during her commission on the South America Station in 1936-37, when she formed part of the 8th Cruiser Squadron, and was similarly employed by the time of her part in the Battle of the River Plate. As it transpired, when Commodore Harwood’s force clashed with the Graf Spee on 13 December 1939, the latter decided to concentrate her 11-inch guns on the Exeter:

‘Just five minutes after the start of the action, an 11-inch shell burst alongside the British ship, killing torpedo tubes crews. A minute later she received a direct hit on “B” turret which put its two 8-inch guns out of action. Splinters swept the bridge, killing or wounding all but three of the officers and ratings standing there. The Captain escaped and, finding the bridge out of action and the wheel-house communications wrecked, he made his way aft to the fight the ship from there. As he did so, Exeter received two more direct hits from 11-inch shells forward ... The Exeter was still receiving punishment, although it was at this stage of the battle that the light cruisers were taken in and out with such skill, striking the enemy with their full weight whenever he turned to tackle the largest of the British cruisers. Two more 11-inch shells hit the Exeter, causing further casualties and extensive damage. One entered the hull and started a fierce fire between the decks. The other put the foremost turret and its two 8-inch guns out of action. It was on the occasion of these hits that the spotting aircraft reported she had completely disappeared in smoke and flame, and it was feared that she had gone. However, she emerged and re-entered the action. In doing so the men of the Exeter proved again the indomitable spirit of the Royal Navy. Their ship was badly stricken. Two of the three turrets were out of action, leaving no guns forward. She had a 7 degrees list and was down by the head. All her compasses had been smashed, and the Captain was handling his ship with the aid of a small boat’s compass. In these circumstances she altered course towards the enemy and fired her torpedoes ... The Exeter, gradually dropping astern, fought on until she had nothing left to fight with. At about 7.30 a.m. her sole remaining turret was flooded. Ten minutes later she turned to the south-east and slowly limped away, making necessary running repairs as she went ... ’ (The King’s Cruisers, by Norman Holman, refers).

The crippled cruiser in fact made her way to the Falkland Islands, where she underwent repairs until January 1940, before she could undertake the return voyage to the U.K. Meanwhile, her casualty return spoke volumes: five officers and 56 ratings killed, three ratings died of wounds, and three officers and 17 ratings otherwise wounded. So, too, the resultant awards to her gallant ship’s company: a C.B., two D.S.Os, seven D.S.Cs, three C.G.Ms, 17 D.S.Ms and 18 “mentions”.

“Kenya” and “Operation Pedestal”

Having returned to a triumphant reception at Plymouth on 15 February 1940, Exeter underwent a complete refit, a task that took until March 1941, but in the interim Edwards would have participated in the special parade and Guildhall “victory luncheon” afforded the officers and men of the River Plate battle. About this time, too, he transferred to the Kenya, aboard which ship he advanced to Temporary Acting Petty Officer. Nor did he have to wait long for his next bout of frontline action, for at the end of 1941 she was present in the Combined Operations raid on Vaasgo, where she was twice hit but only slightly damaged.

However, as stated above, it was for his subsequent deeds on the Malta run in August 1942 that he was awarded his D.S.M., and while the importance of the “Pedestal” operation needs no introduction here, it is worth recalling the bare facts: of the 14 merchantmen that set out, nine were sunk and three damaged, while the Senior Service lost an aircraft carrier, a cruiser and a destroyer, as well as having another half a dozen ships damaged, including the Kenya. A summary of the latter’s experiences in that momentous operation is also to be found in The King’s Cruisers:

‘Two months later Vice-Admiral Curteis hoisted his flag in the Kenya, and there was another exciting episode on the Malta run. It did not compare, however, with the next one, which was the grimly fought battle that got the remains of a convoy, including the famous tanker Ohio, through to Malta after the aircraft carrier Eagle and the cruiser Manchester had been sunk. The ships were subject to all forms of attack, including parachute mines, and U-Boats were in constant attendance. When four torpedoes were aimed at the Kenya, two missed, one passed right under the ship and the last struck the bows on the port side. The Admiral signalled: “Are you all right?” and received the reply, “Torpedoed forward but quite happy!” Five of the fourteen ships of the convoy got through and the Kenya, escorting them all the way, fought for eight hours continuously as she steamed west again for Gibraltar. Late on the afternoon of 14 August, four enemy planes were shot down in as many minutes and as the cruiser reached Gibraltar, the Admiral signalled, “You have shown a devotion to duty which has never been excelled and I shall always remember this force with pride.” At Scapa, ten days later, she was cheered into harbour by the Fleet while the flagship hoisted the three-word signal from the Commander-in-Chief, “Well done Kenya.” Further recognition came in the award of a D.S.O. to Captain Russell and three D.S.Ms [including Edwards] and seven Mentions in Despatches to members of the ship’s company.’

Judging by additional details in Captain Russell’s official report (photocopies included), there seems little doubt that Edwards won his D.S.M. in the incessant air attacks of 14 August - most of which were of the dive-bomber variety. These started at 0648, and were repeated at 0730, 0745, 0911 and 0942, and included near misses on Kenya’s port quarter and starboard bow. As a result a fire was started in 'A' Boiler Room and speed reduced to 16 knots. Further attacks developed at 1030, with a two more near misses, and again at 1049 with near miss on the port side. Then at 1202 a torpedo-bomber attack developed followed at 1208 by high-level bombing and minelaying attacks. “Well done Kenya” indeed.

Edwards received his decoration at an investiture held on 18 May 1943.

Sold with further related items and documentation, including an impressive photograph album covering most of the recipient’s time aboard the Exeter, commencing with images from her visit to Canada in July 1937 through to the eve of hostilities (approximately 130 photographs), many captioned, among them scenes from the earthquake in Chile in July 1939, when Exeter sent ashore a demolition party, and ending with two hand-crafted maps charting the Exeter’s voyages 1936-1940; his pocket diary for 1940, the earlier entries confirming his presence aboard the Exeter in the Falkland Islands; a souvenir silk cushion cover for the 1939 World Fair, New York, another port of call for the men of Exeter; a copy of the Buenos Airies Herald, dated 10 December 1937, with a front page feature on a visit by some of Exeter’s crew to Frigorifico Anglo; and a practice shoot order issued by Kenya’s Gunnery Office on 8 September 1941.