Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War Italy operations M.M. group of six awarded to Warrant Officer Class I R. S. Dew, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, who was decorated for his bravery at the landings at Porto di San Venere in September 1943

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (7605176 A.W.O. Cl. I R. S. Dew, R.E.M.E.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, good very fine and better (6) £1000-1500

M.M. London Gazette 13 January 1944. The original recommendation states:

‘On 8 September 1943, in the landing operation of 231 Brigade Group at Porto di San Venere, a Landing Ship Tank (L.S.T.) carrying essential vehicles and guns was met in the bay by heavy well-aimed fire from enemy guns and mortars. Before reaching the beach the L.S.T. was badly damaged and several of the vehicles were on fire. Warrant Officer Dew, observing this, from Brigade H.Q. on a hill above the beach, immediately and entirely on his own initiative dashed down to the ship to give assistance. He remained there in the face of heavy fire and throughout a dive-bombing attack by enemy aircraft doing invaluable work in the repair of damaged vehicles, enabling these to be driven ashore, also clearing an exit from the ship for a troop of 25-pounder guns which were vitally needed ashore. He showed a total disregard for the danger to which he had voluntarily exposed himself and it was largely due to his energy and fearless conduct that every vehicle in the ship was eventually driven off under its own power. In the afternoon, Warrant Officer Dew returned to give similar aid to a second L.S.T. and again showed the greatest courage and resourcefulness in the face of heavy enemy fire.’

Roy Sidney Dew, who was born in May 1912, enlisted in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in August 1939 and was advanced to Sergeant in August 1940 and to Armament Sergeant-Major in October 1942, while on active service in North Africa. He was demobilised at York in November 1945.