Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Leading Telegraphist S. J. Warner, Royal Navy, who was mentioned in despatches for his gallantry in the submarine Sealion off Norway in 1940

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal, M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (JX. 128675 S. J. Warner, L. Tel., H.M.S. Dolphin), extremely fine (4) £300-350

Stanley John Warner, who was born in September 1911 and entered the Royal Navy in September 1929, volunteered for the submarine branch in October 1931.

Advanced to Leading Telegraphist shortly after the outbreak of hostilities, while serving in Sealion, he remained actively employed in that capacity until December 1940, and won a mention in despatches (London Gazette 1 January 1941 refers). Commanded by Lieutenant-Commander “Ben” Bryant, R.N., who was to emerge as one of the most aggressive and successful submarine captains of the War, Sealion was quickly in action, delivering an attack against the U-21 off Dogger Bank in early November 1939.

But it was for her war patrols in home waters and off Norway in the following year that Bryant won the D.S.C. and Warner his ‘mention”, a period best summarised by the following extracts taken from the former’s obituary:

‘Off Norway in 1940 the clear water, sudden freshwater rips, almost continuous daylight and constant air surveillance made submarine operations extremely hazardous.

Off Stavanger in July 1940, he [Bryant] had what he called his ‘worst patrol’, during which Sealion was depth-charged several times and attacked by aircraft whenever she surfaced to try and recharge her main batteries.

In August 1940 Sealion collided with an enemy ship while Bryant was attacking a convoy. Both periscopes were badly damaged, leaving the boat “blind”, but Bryant got Sealion home and was exonerated from all blame.

Once, after Sealion was forced to remain dived for nearly 24 hours, her air quality was so poor that when she finally surfaced the diesel engines would not start until the boat had been ventilated.

It was one of the few times Bryant was downcast. The war was going badly, and two submarines commanded by friends of his had just been lost. But when he went up into the fore ends, where the sailors lived, his mood changed.

“Suddenly,” he recalled, “the atmosphere of unworried serenity passed from them to me. I realised that they would go into action on the morrow without backward thoughts, that with a crew such as I was privileged to command we could not be beaten: the depression left me.” ’

Bryant would go on to win three D.S.Os for further operations in the Mediterranean, while Warner’s subsequent wartime appointments included service in P. 228 in April-June 1942, in which period she was commanded by Lieutenant Ian McGeoch, R.N., and the Tribune in June-October 1942, in which period, under the command of Lieutenant N. J. Cole, D.S.C., R.N., he participated in her 13th and 14th war patrols in the Arctic, when she provided cover for convoys P.Q. 17 and and P.Q. 18 and encountered the Admiral Hipper and the U-403 - but was unable to get into a position to attack.

He was discharged ashore in September 1945; sold with copied submarine service record.