Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare ‘D-day’ D.S.M. group of five awarded to Marine Eric Deans, Royal Marines, No. 12 Landing Craft Obstruction Clearance Unit

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (Mne. E. Deans, R.M. PO/.115500 (T)) on its original Investiture pin; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, small edge bruise to the first, otherwise good very fine (5) £900-1200

D.S.M. London Gazette 14 November 1944: ‘For gallantry, skill, determination and undaunted devotion to duty during the landing of Allied Forces on the coast of Normandy.’

The following recommendation (originally for a ‘mention’) is taken from Admiralty Files: ‘For devotion to duty whilst subjected to steady mortar fire and accurate sniping in the initial assault period... Marine Deans showed conspicuous devotion to duty under fire as a member of L.C.O.C.U. No. 12 whilst attempting, unarmed, to clear underwater obstructions from the beach under hazardous conditions due to the rough sea and rising tide.’

Bruce Lockhart, in his brief history of the Royal Marines in the Second World War, The Marines Were There, states: ‘... I must make some mention of the part played by other R.M. formations on D-day and the immediately following days. First must come the Landing Craft Obstruction Clearance Units because they were among the first men to set foot on the beaches. These units were composed partly of naval personnel and partly of Marines of the R.M. Engineer Commando, and their task was to clear the beaches for the later waves of landing craft. It was a difficult and highly dangerous job, for it was at this time that German fire on the beaches was at its worst. It goes without saying that the task was performed with courage. It was also carried out with remarkable speed and efficiency and with great success.’