Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Murmansk Convoys D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Chief Ordnance Artificer E. H. Snook, H.M.S. Ashanti

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (M.38431 O.A.1); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; War Medal; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (M.38431 O.A.2 H.M.S. Ashanti) mounted as worn, together with uniform ribbons, post-war Driving Licence, his wife’s Identity Card, and envelope addressed to him at Coastal Forces Base, Malta, in 1946, nearly extremely fine £700-900

D.S.M. London Gazette 25 August 1942: ‘For distinguished services in H.M. Ships ...Ashanti ..., in taking convoys to and from Murmansk, through the dangers of ice and heavy seas and in the face of relentless attacks by enemy U-boats, aircraft and surface forces.’ Seedies Roll states ‘Murmansk Convoys, March and May 1942.’

H.M.S. Ashanti, a tribal class destroyer, was part of the close escort group covering convoy PQ.12, which set out from Reykjavik on 1 March 1942, and again acted as escort to convoy PQ.16 which set out on 21 May. Both convoys came under heavy attack from German naval and aerial forces and suffered heavy losses. Ashanti took part in Operation Pedestal in August 1942, and acted as close support to the Arctic convoy PQ.18 in September 1942, and to the convoy JW.55A, which saw the sinking of the Scharnhorst on Boxing Day of 1942.