The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 1)

Five: Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (JX.18491 S. Bolton, L.Sea.) impressed naming; 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal, very fine (5)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 18 May 1943 “For outstanding bravery and enterprise in action in the harbour of Oran in H.M. ships HARTLAND and WALNEY.”

The following details and recommendation were extracted from the official Action Report: “Leading Seaman Samuel Bolton P/JX 180491 set a high example of courage and cheerfulness under the most daunting conditions both under fire and as a prisoner.”

The objective of Operation Reservist as part of Operation Torch - “The Allied landings in Northern Africa” - was to secure various points in the harbour at Oran and to land United States special forces to prevent the sabotage of ships and important installations and the possible blockage of the harbour by the French. The United States Cutters WALNEY and HARTLAND were commissioned as H.M. Ships under the command of Lieutenant Commander P. C. Meyrick, Royal Navy, and Lieutenant Commander G. Billot, Royal Naval Reserve, respectively. The force was under the overall command of Acting Captain F. T. Peters D.S.O., D.S.C., Royal Navy, in WALNEY.

At 0300 on 8 November 1942 WALNEY and HARTLAND with M.L.s 480 and 483 reached the entrance to Oran harbour. A smoke screen was laid by the M.L.s, under cover of which WALNEY charged the boom and broke through. HARTLAND, which was clear of the smoke screen was picked up by a search light from Fort Lamoune, and a devastating fire opened on her, wiping out practically all the guns crews and severing a main steam pipe. The Captain was temporarily blinded by a splinter and the ship struck the jetty a few feet from the harbour entrance. HARTLAND, however, at a second attempt entered the Avent Port and reached her objective, the Quai de Dunkerque. The heavy casualties and fires raging on board the HARTLAND compelled the Captain to give the order to abandon ship when the decks were red hot and the ship liable to blow up at any moment. HARTLAND blew up at about 1015.

WALNEY in the meanwhile, proceeding up the harbour, met a French destroyer which she attempted to ram unsuccessfully and was raked by two broadsides. One shell burst in the engine room. A few minutes later she came under fire form a French cruiser and a shall burst in the boiler room, disabling her. She drifted past the cruiser, raked by point blank fire on both sides, and reached the jetty; but the heavy casualties and fires on board compelled the commanding officer to order the ship to be abandoned. She drifted away and sank between 0900 and 1000. Both ships entered harbour flying British and United States Ensigns and sank with them flying. H.M.S. WALNEY lost five officers and 75 ratings killed. The losses amongst the U.S. troops were extremely heavy, only a small number actually reaching the shore. Many of the surviving crew of HARTLAND and WALNEY were taken prisoners of war, amongst which was Leading Seaman Samuel Bolton.

The courage and bravery displayed by the officers and men during operation Reservist was recognised by the following Gallantry awards; 1 V.C.; 3 D.S.O.’s; 6 D.S.C.’s; 1 C.G.M.; 3 D.S.M.’s, and 5 M.I.D.’s. The Honours and Awards Committee “thought that the award of a V.C. to Captain Peters, as the Officer in charge of the Operation, would recognise the action as a forlorn hope of the highest gallantry.” Samuel Bolton, who was aboard H.M.S. HARTLAND in the action, was presented with his D.S.M. by King George VI at Buckingham Palace on 12 October 1943.