Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

‘The escape of M.L. 128 under Lieutenant-Commander R. Saunders deserves more than a passing reference, for it was certainly one of the most thrilling during two actions filled with thrills. As this launch was approaching Ostend piers she suddenly emerged from the smoke-screen to find herself almost on the beach, not more than two or three hundred yards away. By the houses on the front Lieutenant-Commander Saunders knew he was to the westward of the piers, and turned to make for them at full speed, but it was too late to escape attention from the shore, for up went a succession of star shells and a hail of bullets from machine-guns clattered on to the deck. One man standing just behind the C.O. was killed instantly, but the rest of those on board seemed to bear charmed lives. The glass of the telegraphs on which Lieutenant-Commander Saunders' hands were resting was shattered by a bullet, but he was untouched; the coxswain also escaped without a scratch.  Lieutenant F. F.Brayfield was slightly wounded in the leg, but he had a truly marvellous escape, a bullet actually passing in and out of the crown of his shrapnel helmet without touching his head. The detonator box in the chart-house also had a bullet clean through it, but without hitting a detonator. Escapes from death, literally by fractions of inches, these. No one else was hit before the boat managed to get into the smoke again, but the bullet-riddled hull tells the story of escape very vividly. I believe this boat holds the record of "scars" from machine-gun bullets during the actions, sixty-six being counted upon her return to harbour.’
The Motor Launch Patrol, by Gordon S. Maxwell, refers.



The outstanding Ostend raid D.S.O. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Commander R. Saunders, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, late Royal Naval Division: the above cited deeds aside, he had been given special promotion for his earlier part in the Zeebrugge raid and, remarkably, won a mention in despatches for bomb and mine disposal work in 1940 - aged 64 years

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; 1914 Star (L4/3290 R. Saunders, A.B., R.N.V.R., Benbow Bttn. R.N.D.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Commr. R. Saunders, R.N.V.R.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted as worn, very fine or better (6) £4000-5000

D.S.O. London Gazette 28 August 1918:

‘This officer volunteered for rescue work at Ostend in command of M.L. 128. In company with M.L. 283 he went in after Vindictive to look for survivors. When near the shore he came under fire - his signalman was killed and Lieutenant Brayfield and one of the crew wounded. This officer showed great coolness, setting a fine example to his men throughout and was of the greatest assistance in organising the smoke screen.’

Mention in despatches London Gazette 28 August 1918:

‘For distinguished services in the War.’

Mention in despatches London Gazette 20 December 1940:

‘For courage, coolness and devotion to duty.’

Raphael Saunders, a pre-war rating in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, served in the Antwerp operations in Benbow Battalion, Royal Naval Division in 1914, prior to being commissioned as a Sub. Lieutenant in December 1915.

Subsequently allocated to Coastal Forces, he was given command of M.L. 128 and was present in the famous raid on Zeebrugge on the night of 22-23 April 1918, when, under heavy fire, he rescued the survivors of M.L. 424, which latter boat had taken a direct hit from the Mole, killing its C.O., Lieutenant Oswald Robinson. He was given special promotion to Lieutenant-Commander.

However, it was for his gallant deeds in the Ostend raid on the night of 9-10 May 1918, that he won his D.S.O., on which occasion he volunteered for rescue work in the harbour entrance, one of four Motor Launch C.Os to do so, among them Lieutenant G. H. Drummond, R.N.V.R., in M.L. 254 and Lieutenant Roland Bourke, R.N.V.R., in 276, both of whom were awarded the Victoria Cross.

Having then come ashore, he badgered the Admiralty for a ship on the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, but the best they could come up with was a desk job - he was after all in his 60s. But rather than be bound to a desk, he wrangled his way into a bomb and mine disposal squad at Chatham and, among other tasks, lent valuable assistance to Lieutenant-Commander R. J. “Dick” Hammersley, R.N., the first man to dismantle a magnetic mine, which was found in the wreckage of a downed enemy aircraft on Clacton Sands. Having dealt with another four or five devices, Hammersley and his immediate assistant, Chief Petty Officer R. V. Ellingworth, were killed by another device at Dagenham, Essex on 21 September 1940. Both were awarded posthumous G.Cs - which were gazetted on the same day as Saunders’ “mention”.

A reticent man with a dry wit, the gallant Saunders died in 1959, aged 83 years; sold with the recipient’s original D.S.O. warrant, dated 28 August 1918, together with his M.I.D. certificates, dated 28 August 1918 and 20 December 1940.