Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare and outstanding Second World War Arctic convoy D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Commander A. B. Russell, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallant leadership of the Close Escort Group in H.M.S. Malcolm during the passage of PQ-18, when in a single day the Luftwaffe delivered eight major assaults - the sky was so thick with enemy aircraft that they were likened to ‘a cloud of phantom locusts’: Arctic operations aside, he was also mentioned in despatches on four occasions - namely for his command of the destroyer Whitehall at Dunkirk and in a hotly contested convoy, and for subsequent gallantry in Operations “Torch” and “Neptune”

Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., 1st issue, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated ‘1942’; British War and Victory Medals (Mid. A. B. Russell, R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted as worn, together with a set of related miniature dress medals, the whole contained in an old Gieves Ltd. leather case, very fine and better (14)
£3000-3500

D.S.O. London Gazette 8 December 1942. The original recommendation states:

‘Commander Russell was Senior Officer of the Close Escort and his handling of his escort was admirable and inspired confidence in all.’

Archibald Boyd Russell was born in June 1901, the son of Jackson Russell, of Archerfield, North Berwick, and entered the Royal Navy as a cadet in January 1915. Having then been appointed a Midshipman in November 1917, he served aboard the battleship H.M.S. Dreadnought in the closing months of the Great War.

Advanced to Lieutenant in December 1922, he served in cruisers on the North America and West Indies Stations, but following his advancement to Lieutenant-Commander in December 1930 commenced a long association with destroyers, initially as “Jimmy the One” of the Versatile, but thereafter with a spate of commands, including the Torrid, Westminster and Duchess, the latter on the China Station in the mid-1930s.

H.M.S. Whitehall 1939-42 - Dunkirk - first and second “mentions”

And by the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, he was serving as skipper of the Whitehall, in which capacity he quickly saw action off Dunkirk, gaining his first “mention” (London Gazette 16 August 1940, refers). The original recommendation states:

‘Between 30 May and 1 June inclusive, H.M.S. Whitehall embarked 3,400 troops in four trips. On the fifth trip she sighted Basilisk out of action and sank her by guns and torpedo fire, being subjected to dive bombing, which caused some damage. Lieutenant-Commander Russell showed great initiative and seamanship throughout. His judgment was excellent, especially in Dunkirk harbour, and in successful avoiding action in the narrow channels whilst being subjected to dive bombing.’

Having then added a second “mention” to his accolades for further services in the Whitehall (London Gazette 1 January 1941, refers), and almost certainly in respect of her part in escorting HX-79 in October 1940 when the convoy came under sustained attack from five U-Boats, he was appointed to the command of another destroyer, the Malcolm, in May 1942.


H.M.S. Malcolm 1942-43 - Arctic and North Africa - D.S.O. and third “mention”

Following the disaster of PQ-17 in July 1942, when 24 of our ships were lost to U-boats and the Luftwaffe, the Admiralty postponed Arctic convoys until September, when PQ-18 was mounted, this time with a Royal Navy escort that employed over 70 ships to defend 40 merchantmen - nonetheless 13 of those merchantmen were sunk. And in command of the Close Escort Group was Russell, a formidable responsibility for, U-Boats aside, the Luftwaffe had ambitious plans. Richard Woodman takes up the story in Arctic Convoys:

‘A formidable array of aircraft prepared to attack PQ-18 from northern Norway. Forty-two Heinkel He. 111H-6 torpedo-bombers of KG26 were joined by thirty-five Junkers Ju. 88A-17s of KG26, the faster Ju. 88 modification capable of carrying torpedoes, which had been flown up from France. These aircraft were, of course, supported by the long-range Condors and Blohm and Voss flying boats though not by fighters, which did not possess the range to cover the bombers. They were, however, bolstered by the Ju. 88 bombers of KG30 and this combination allowed the Luftwaffe to employ a tactic known as the Golden Zange, or golden Comb, a conjoint low-level airborne torpedo attack which was supported by diversionary medium-level and dive-bombing. By this tactic it was hoped to fragment a convoy's defences and enable the torpedo-bombers, who at low altitude would duck under the surveillance radar, to press home a devastating and overwhelming onslaught.

Intelligence had revealed that an aircraft-carrier would accompany the convoy and Goering insisted that ‘the attack against the aircraft-carrier must be so violent that this threat is removed.’ Despite this, German aircraft tended always to seek out merchant ships, knowing that in doing so they were aiming for the most significant targets. A victory over PQ-18, the young pilots were told, would help their comrades in the Wehrmacht, easing the conquest of the Caucasus and the capture of Stalingrad by depriving the Red Army of its sinews.’

On 14 September 1942, the Luftwaffe delivered no less than eight major assaults against PQ-18, large forces of Ju. 88s, He. 111s and He. 115s unleashing a torrent of bombs and torpedoes, many of the latter finding their mark. In fact so thick was the sky with enemy aircraft that the Commodore likened them to ‘a cloud of phantom locusts’, while a young Sub. Lieutenant recalled seeing them ‘rise up on the horizon, black and repulsive’, where ‘they extended far on either side of our view’ - a scene which shortly became even more memorable with the advent of the intense A.A. fire put up by our ships. Of events on the 14th, Russell later reported:

‘Monday 14th opened inauspiciously with the torpedoing by a U-Boat of the Athel Templar close south of Spitzbergen at 0325. At 1235, whilst Malcolm was oiling, torpedo bombers attacked the port side of the convoy from ahead. Three or four were shot down and no damage resulted. At 1330 14 Ju., 88s started dive-bombing through the clouds and at 1400 another torpedo bomber attack developed from right ahead, most of the aircraft passing between Malcolm (centre of the ahead screen) and Achates (next ship to port). Three aircraft were shot down and two ships torpedoed, but one of these ships got going again and continued with the convoy. Intermittent dive-bombing by Ju. 88s continued until 1502 and it appeared as if Scylla, Avenger and the screen were the targets. Hope Island was sighted at 1800. Numerous H/F and M/F D/F bearings suggested that the U-Boat Pack would attack during the short period of darkness, but no attack developed ... ’

Notwithstanding such protracted attention from the enemy, and largely thanks to Russell’s admirable leadership of the Close Escort Group, PQ-18 reached the North Dvina in the afternoon of the 19th, with nearly three quarters of the convoy’s merchantmen.

He was awarded the D.S.O., which distinction he received at a Buckingham Palace investiture held in June 1943, and by which stage he had added a third “mention” to his accolades for Operation “Torch” in November 1942 (London Gazette 16 March 1943, refers), on which occasion Malcolm was charged with landing party of U.S. troops inside the harbour at Argel. Owing, however, to heavy fire from the Vichy French battery of Les Arcades, the mission had to be aborted, a direct hit killing ten and wounding 27 of her crew.


Combined Operations and D-Day - fourth “mention”

Coming ashore in January 1943, Russell was given command of H.M.S. Dorlin, the Combined Operations base at Acharacle in Argyllshire and thence, in support of D-Day and the Normandy landings, command of the S.S. Thysville as Senior Officer Ferry Base in the Assault Area. He was again mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 14 November 1944, refers), the recommendation stating:

‘From the start and through the operation [”Neptune”], Commander Russell realised fully the capabilities of a merchant ship to perform the duties expected of her, which led to the happiest relations between him and the Master and ensured that the organisation set up functioned with the highest possible efficiency. It was also largely due to his initiative that no time was lost bin anchoring the ship in her correct position on arrival in the Assault Area so that the crews of minor landing craft were relieved early and this must have assisted the ‘build up’ during an important period. I have nothing but praise for the way in which he carried out the duties of Senior Officer Ferry Base.’

At the end of 1944, Russell joined the staff of H.M.S. Lanka, the Ceylon base, following which he returned home to an appointment in Devonport in the summer of 1945. Placed on the Retired List in June 1946, he died at Sedgehill, Wiltshire in April 1970.