Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second World War D.S.M. awarded to Regulating Petty Officer H. A. Gibney, H.M.S. Cleopatra, for gallantry during an attack by enemy aircraft whilst en-route to Malta in February 1942

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (MX.54671 H. A. Gibney, R.P.O.) light contact marks, otherwise very fine £300-350

D.S.M. London Gazette 23 June 1942 ‘For bravery and resource when their ship was attacked by enemy aircraft.’

In February 1942, the cruiser Cleopatra, in company with the destroyer Fortune, came under repeated attacks from JU88 dive-bombers whilst en-route from Gibraltar to Malta. In the second wave of the attack, Cleopatra was hit by two bombs. One bomb exploded in the air on the port side, causing considerable damage and killing the Captain’s Secretary on the Compass Platform.

The second struck the water on the port quarter and splinters did considerable damage, killing and seriously wounding men at the port Pom Pom and Oerlikon, and one officer passenger in the Captain’s Day Cabin. They also damaged the Port tubes, one torpedo, P2 Searchlight, and set fire to two of the five cased warheads being carried for passage in the port waist.

By the outstanding efforts and disregard for danger of: S/Lt. C. J. Cunningham, Mr. E. A. Durnford, Commissioned Gunner, C.P.O. S. Galley, R.P.O. H. A. Gibney, and Leading Seaman J. Craig, one of the cased warheads was thrown overboard and the fire in the second extinguished. The heads had been pierced and the T.N.T. was well alight.

The fire under control, the ship proceeded towards entrance to swept channel to catch up Fortune and lead her in. However, about ten minutes later, Cleopatra was under attack again and hit by a 500 lb bomb which entered the forecastle starboard, passed through the Capstan engine flat, pierced a bulkhead and went into the fore lower Seaman’s messdeck, and finally out of the ship abaft the Asdic compartment on the port side. Despite flooding, the considerable damage was effectively shored up by the Damage Control Party and both ships made it safely to port at Malta two hours later. The following month, 20-26 March, Cleopatra took part in the Second Battle of Sirte and was again damaged by an enemy bomb whilst escorting the supply convoy MW.10 to Malta. Sold with a copy of the official action report.