Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A particularly fine Second World War Coastal Forces D.S.M. awarded to Able Seaman A. Harris, Royal Navy, an M.G.B. gunner who remained at his post in a violent fire fight off Cap Griz Nez in July 1942, even when one of his guns was blown clean out of his much holed turret

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (SSX. 26581 A. Harris, A.B.), edge bruise, better than very fine £1600-1800

D.S.M. London Gazette 15.9.1942. The original recommendation states:

'On the night of 20-21 July 1942, M.G.Bs 328, 322 and 601 were in action with superior forces of the enemy. Able Seaman Harris fired the starboard 0.5-inch turret with great accuracy and even when one gun was blown out of the turret and the turret riddled with holes, he remained at his post and continued firing with one gun until all his ammunition was expended.’

Able Seaman Arthur Harris, D.S.M., like his Skipper, Lieutenant A. Gotelee, D.S.C., must have been wondering how M.G.B. 601 might handle in action as she made her way to the popular Coastal Forces' hunting ground off Cap Griz Nez on the evening of 20 July 1942, for she was a new 'D' Class Fairmile, none of which had yet run into opposition. As it transpired, given the tremendous punishment meted out to her by a far superior enemy force, she handled mercifully well, safely bringing back her crew of 14, several of them wounded, one fatally.

Operating under the overall command of the very courageous Lieutenant H. P. "Pat" Cobb, D.S.C., in M.G.B. 328, and also accompanied by M.G.B. 322, the small force of Fairmiles came upon an enemy convoy which comprised at least one Merchantman, escorted by several Armed Trawlers and a number of R-Boats. Despite the odds, Cobb, in true Coastal Forces fashion, did not even hesitate, leading in an attack in the face of a truly terrible concentration of enemy fire. His command, 328, was repeatedly hit and set ablaze, finally going up with a large explosion, killing him and most of the crew. Meanwhile Gotelee in 601 was having an equally difficult time:

'I was almost completely out of touch with the others owing to my wireless set having been blown to pieces, and thereafter I had to play it by myself. We succeeded in doing this for about 55 minutes and I like to think that by crossing the T of the convoy and keeping moving with varying speeds, mostly rather high, we did persuade the convoy to turn back' (Battle of the Narrow Seas, by Peter Scott refers).

Gotelee, like Cobb, was a 'Full Throttle' man, so his 'varying speeds, mostly rather high', possibly bordered on the modest side - he once set his dynamos on fire after a running fight of nearly an hour at full speed. Undoubtedly on the modest side was the above account he gave to Peter Scott, his No. 1, Sub. Lieutenant D.G. Algie, providing rather a more illuminating rendition of 601's ordeal:

'Action was joined by the Senior Officer indicating the enemy over a loud hailer. He opened fire on a target bearing Green 30 from this ship which had the effect of drawing fire from at least two other enemy ships on either beam, and these two targets were selected by this ship. Another large sweep was made by all three boats and the enemy again engaged on both sides. During this sweep a direct hit on the starboard side of the Bridge pierced the armour and wounded the Captain and Coxswain. The Captain now took the wheel and continued to cox the ship for the remainder of the action. At this time a Star Shell from ashore revealed the other two boats slowed down and fouling our line of fire from the only visible targets. We now became detached from the remainder of the force and touch was not regained at any subsequent stages. About this time a direct hit on the starboard 0.5-inch Turret [Harris' position] put it out of action and passed through the Charthouse which was set alight by their incendiaries, as was the turret, but these fires were quickly got under control. A further burst through the Charthouse passed through the port 0.5-inch Turret putting it out of action and seriously wounding the Gunner. Stoppages also occurred on the Pom-Pom and Oerlikon Turrets, the latter soon being remedied but the former could not be cleared. On action being rejoined with the Oerlikon a splinter on the pipe line put that Turret out of action ... ’ (P.R.O. ADM/12363 refers).

By 0120 hours all of 601's main armament was out of action and her position perilous in the extreme. Smouldering and unable to raise assistance by wireless she crept cautiously along the coast towards Calais, finally setting course for home after ten minutes. Luckily, as related above, the new 'D' Class Fairmile had taken her punishment well and M.G.B. and crew made it home before dawn.