Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Second World War D.S.M. group of five awarded to Able Seaman W. H. Collings, Royal Navy, for the evacuation of Holland in 1940

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (JX. 170876 W. H. Collings, A.B., H.M.S. Versatile); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. , 1st issue (JX. 170876 CH. D. 582 W. H. Collings, A.B., R.F.R.), generally good very fine (5) £600-800

D.S.M. London Gazette 25 June 1940:

‘For courage and devotion to duty on the Dutch coast.’

William Henry Collings was decorated for gallant deeds off the Dutch coast in the destroyer H.M.S. Versatile during “Operation Ordnance”, the evacuation of the Hook of Holland in May 1940.

Skippered at the time by Commander T. A. Hussey, R.N., Versatile was attacked by enemy aircraft when she arrived off the Hook on the evening of 13 May, the same day that Queen Wilhelmina and members of the royal family had been evacuated in the Hereward. One bomb hit her on the upper deck above the engine room on the starboard side, leaving a gaping hole four feet in diameter, and two more exploding nearby on the jetty - the enemy aircraft also raked her with machine-gun, causing many casualties on the lower bridge and upper deck. No longer able to raise steam or steer, the Versatile was a sitting duck, but Hussey, who remained ‘extremely cool’, managed to attach tow lines to the Janus, which ship brought his much damaged ship back to England.

Collings received his decoration at a Buckingham Palace investiture held in March 1941; sold with a quantity of research, including copied extracts from the official narrative of events for ships operating out of Dover in the period 10-19 May 1940; also see the website WW2 People’s War for a good account of the Versatile’s part in the evacuation of Holland operations.