The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 2)

Seven: Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (JX.152120 E. B. Wilkinson, A.B. H.M.S. Keith) impressed naming; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Minesweeping 1945-51 (C/JX.152120 E. B. Wilkinson, D.S.M. Ldg. Smn. R.N.); Korea 1950-53 (C/MX.804298 E. B. Wilkinson, D.S.M. L.P.M. R.N.); U.N. Korea, very fine (7)

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

View
Collection

D.S.M. London Gazette 16 August 1940 ‘For good services in the withdrawal of the allied armies from the beaches of Dunkirk.’

Able Seaman Eric Bradley Wilkinson served as a Pom Pom Gunner aboard the destroyer H.M.S. KEITH during operation Dynamo, namely the evacuation of the allied armies from Dunkirk and neighbouring beaches between the 26 May and 4 June 1940.

After completing a short refit at Chatham the KEITH sailed for Dunkirk at 1732 on 30 May when she took off about 1400 troops, these being disembarked at Dover. At 0305 the next day she again sailed for Dunkirk where she acted as flagship of the Rear Admiral, Dover, in charge of all sea forces on the coast.

From the time of her arrival until she finally sank at about 0940 on 1 June, she was patrolling along the French and Belgian coasts during which time she was almost continually opening fire on enemy aircraft, two of which were shot down. It is to be noted that the 3” H.A. gun was found to be most effective in warding off the attackers and that all 3” ammunition was expended before the arrival of the final attacks which sank the ship.

It is evident that few if any ships had to face more severe bombing attacks and that during the whole time the conduct of the ships company was exemplary. On the afternoon of 31 May the ship survived both dive and high level bombing attacks and early the next day was subjected to machine gun attack followed by intensive dive bombing attack. A second powerful dive bombing attack followed as a result of which the ship was lost. Further bombing and machine gun attacks took place while the ship was being abandoned. Many survivors went to the Tug STABBS which, after escaping one dive bombing attack, was sunk in a further attack; many of KEITH’s survivors being lost in her. There were many incidents recorded of gallant conduct by men who were lost either in KEITH or after they had left the ship. 3 officers and 33 men in all were lost.

The following members of H.M.S. KEITH’s Pom Pom Crews all showed great courage in keeping their guns in action up to the end and are recommended for the Distinguished Service Medal:

Able Seaman Eric Bradley Wilkinson C/JX 152120
Able Seaman Ian A. Nethercott, C/55X 28288
Able Seaman James Wallis, C/55X 27313