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

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (A.B. R. Theaker, P/JX.697768) very fine and rare

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 25 November 1947 “For gallant and distinguished service while operating with the Palestine Patrol in intercepting illegal immigrant ships.”

Seedie’s Roll gives the following information: “For the boarding of the PALMACH 21 September 1946 whilst serving in the Minesweeper H.M.S. ROWENA.” Only six D.S.M.’s were awarded for these post war operations in Palestine.

The following extract appeared in The Times 22 & 23 September 1946: “The most serious clash yet on board an illegal immigrant ship occurred in Palestine waters last night when a caique was boarded two and a half miles south of the Palestine-Syria border. One Jew was killed, and several members of the boarding party as well as other immigrants were injured. The ciaque, which the Jews have named the Palmach, is now in Haifa Bay with an armed guard on board, and her passengers will be trans-shipped tomorrow before being taken to Cyprus.

It is not unlikely that the ship came down the Syrian coast. She had been sighted earlier but about midnight the Minesweeper H.M.S. Rowena closed up to hail her in French, Italian and English, and inform the passengers that a party was coming on board. Officers and seamen climbed over the side on to the ship’s deck and were then met with a rush. The immigrants used crowbars, hatchets, knives, and any weapon they could find.

One seaman fired his rifle and a Jew was killed. The situation then became dangerous, and the Jews were again hailed and warned that tear smoke would be used. Resistance continued until the use of five grenades of tear smoke allowed the boarding party to get the vessel under control. The Palmach was then taken in tow, and reached Haifa this morning when eight sick passengers were taken to hospital. Eighteen detonators and a soapbox containing a piece of Italian T.N.T. in each cake of soap were later found in the ship.”