Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: attributed to R. P. Turner, Royal Navy

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, all unnamed, extremely fine (lot) £100-140

Ronald Philip Turner was born in Attleborough, Warwickshire on 11 June 1923. He volunteered for the Royal Navy on 11 November 1942, serving as an Ordinary Seaman. Served at Raleigh, November 1942-January 1943; Drake, January-April 1943; Tyne - on Scorpion, April-July 1943 and Drake, July-December 1943. He served on the battleship H.M.S. Rodney, December 1943-May 1945, being promoted to Able Seaman in November 1944 (1943 on papers). As such he served aboard the ship during the Normandy Landings, June 1944, where her massive 16 inch calibre guns provided long range cover for the troops struggling ashore. She was credited with bombarding a river crossing 22 miles inland in order to keep a Panzer Division at bay; later on she was to bombard German positions in Caen and on Alderney. In September 1944 she was on Arctic Convoy duty. After Rodney, further service followed at Drake, May-July 1945; St. Angelo, July 1945-January 1946 and then again at Drake, Jan-May 1946. Turner was released to Class ‘A’ Reserve on 31 May 1946.

With Certificate of Service; Gunnery History Sheet; W.W.2 medal card forwarding box addressed to ‘Mr R. P. Turner, 15 Abbotsford Rd., Attleborough, Nuneaton, Warwicks.’; sundry photographs; newspaper cuttings and papers; together with a fascinating notebook containing recollections of the days 5/6+ June 1944.

‘June 5th 1944. Captain Fitzroy officer commanding H.M.S. Rodney in a broadcast to his Ship’s Company of 1800 men announced that we were about to embark upon the greatest amphibious operation ever undertaken in history, the outcome being the decisive turning point of the war. Continuing he briefed us with the opposition the enemy could bring forth namely 16in, 9.5in and 6in gun batteries ....

June 6th. 0720 first assault troops landed in Normandie Ramillies and Warspite began bombarding shore batteries, with aerial bombardment by the R.A.F. “Rodney” was ordered to Portsmouth to await further orders; 1900 arrived at Portsmouth; 0300 we sailed after taking onboard 700 tons of oil fuel; 1500 we arrive off the beachhead in the vicinity of “Caen” where we steamed for several hours awaiting orders from the army ashore as to where the bombardment was required. Without warning German 6in shore batteries opened up on the invading convoys, Rodney replying with her 16in, the after effects being the batteries were soon silenced. ...... The following morning we heard that a Panzer Div had made a break through our lines. We were ordered to proceed close inshore and carry out a further bombardment, employing full our 16in and 6in armament, “Oh boy” was the noise and smoke just terrific!!! ... The effects of the bombardment as we learned later, the enemy withdrew enabling our forces to regain their previously won positions. ....’

At a later date he recalls General Montgomery coming onboard and thanking them for the wonderful support they had given his troops. Later still he recalls a heavy bombardment of Caen, followed by a visit from Admiral Ramsey who thanked the ship’s crew for the part they had played in the great invasion. The notebook is signed by Turner.