Orders, Decorations and Medals

An Operation Pedestal D.S.C. group of five awarded to Chief Engineer Alexander Chalmers, M.V. Wairangi, torpedoed and sunk in August 1942

Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse hallmarked 1942 and officially dated 1942, further inscribed ‘Chief Engineer, Malta Convoy, August’, in its case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal, these in card box of issue but without label, together with Investiture ticket and letter from his ex-employers, the Shaw Savill Line, extremely fine (5) £600-800

D.S.C. London Gazette 10 November 1942: ‘For bravery and dauntless resolution when an important Convoy was fought through to Malta in the face of relentless attacks by day and night from enemy submarines, aircraft and surface forces.’

The following extract is taken from Pedestal, the Malta Convoy of August 1942 by Peter C. Smith: ‘The Wairangi was also left earlier, stopped and under attack. Her engineers tried desperately to restart the engines, but it was a losing battle. The Chief Engineer, Alexander Chalmers, tried repeatedly to nurse his engines back to life while at the same time trying to cope with the inrush of water, the pumps proving inadequate. The Axis attacks reached a dangerous pitch with, it seemed, ships firing away and being torpedoed all around them. Eventually Captain Gordon decided that the situation was hopeless and, as there was no hope of a tow, he did not feel justified in risking further the lives of his crew.

The vessel was still fairly stable and in view of the possibility of her remaining afloat after being abandoned and taken by the enemy next day as a prize, Captain Gordon decided to scuttle her. The charges were set and the crew who had taken to the boats pulled away and awaited results.

After some time the sounds of battle had receded and it became apparent that the ship was not sinking fast enough. A party of volunteers, led by Chalmers, then went back to the ship. They entered the flooded engine-rooms and despite the obvious danger, broke the water cooling pipe and opened several water-tight doors. For this gallant act Chalmers was awarded the D.S.C.’

The parties in the rafts and boats drifted about in the vicinity of the ship until dawn, when their ship came under attack from German torpedo bombers but, incredibly, four torpedoes failed to hit their mark. At about 8 p.m. Captain Gordon sighted two destroyers and some time later the Eskimo came up and took the survivors aboard. In all seventy-nine were rescued.