A Second War ‘Operation Calendar (ii)’ D.S.M. group of five awarded to Leading Seaman H. E. Parrott, Royal Navy Patrol Service, for gallantry and endurance in Motor Minesweeper ‘57’ in clearing the Scheldt estuary of mines during the period October-November 1944, thus opening up a vital supply route to the port of Antwerp at a critical time in our military operations

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (L.S. H. E. Parrott. LT/JX. 198970); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, extremely fine (5) £900-£1,200

D.S.M. London Gazette 3 April 1945:
‘For gallantry and endurance in clearing the estuary of the Scheldt of mines during the period of October to November 1944.’

The original recommendation states: ‘This rating has carried out his duties as Coxswain in an excellent manner. Throughout the whole operation, his cheerfulness and leadership have been an inspiration to all on board. He has shown initiative and greatly assisted in keeping the ship fit for sweeping. During bad weather, both at sea and at anchor, he has shown continual concern for the safety and well-being of the ship. Twenty mines have been detonated during Scheldt operations in which the ship took part.’

Herbert Edgar Parrott was a Hull trawler man before joining the Royal Navy at the outbreak of the war and was Coxswain of M.M.S. 57 which was launched in October 1941, with a complement of 20 officers and crew. Operation Calendar (ii) was a British naval undertaking to sweep the West Scheldt branch of the Scheldt river estuary and so remove German mines during operations to open, and then keep open, the port of Antwerp to Allied shipping bringing in supplies and equipment to support the eastward movement of Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery’s Allied 21st Army Group and Lieutenant General Omar N. Bradley’s US 12th Army Group (November 1944/January 1945). The clearance of mines from the Scheldt estuary off the coast of Holland and Antwerp was the biggest minesweeping operation of the Second World War. The officers and men of M.M.S. 57 between them earned one D.S.C., four D.S.M.’s and three M.I.D.’s in these operations.