Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A notable Second World War period campaign group of five awarded to Petty Officer J. R. Darby, who was mentioned in despatches for gallant deeds aboard the paddle steamer Glen Gower off Dunkirk and likewise for his part in post-V.E. Day minesweeping operations aboard H.M.S. Frolic - he subsequently served in the Shropshire Fire Brigade for 25 years

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Minesweeping 1945-51 (D/JX. 139835 J. R. Darby, P.O., R.N.); Fire Brigade Long Service, E.II.R. (Fireman John R. Darby), generally good very fine (5) £400-500

John Richard Darby was born at Ludlow, Shropshire in June 1917 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in August 1933. An Acting Leading Seaman by the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939, he was drafted to the Admiralty requisitioned paddle minesweeper Glen Gower, in which capacity he won his first mention in despatches for gallantry off Dunkirk (London Gazette 16 August 1940, refers).

The Glen Gower made two trips to Dunkirk, the first of them to La Panne on the last day of May 1940, where she was beached and embarked 530 troops before refloating and going alongside Dunkirk pier to collect further evacuees. While there, she was damaged by a German shell which pierced the upper deck and killed and wounded troops in the mess deck below - ‘thereafter, the ship, the approach road and the town were bombed at intervals of 20 minutes, shells falling all round the ship but she was not hit again ... Arrived Harwich. Disembarked 800 troops’ (her Captain’s report, refers).

On her second trip on 2 June 1940, Glen Gower’s C.O., Acting Commander M. A. C. Biddulph, R.N., reported that Dunkirk ‘appeared an inferno. Huge flames were shooting up from the fires in the town and the noise of gunfire and bursting shells was terrific.’ As a consequence, he was ordered to take his ship to the beaches at nearby St. Malo, where in fact ‘the ship was continually under fire from the shore guns and howitzers’, but nonetheless came away with 435 troops, including a Brigadier. As it transpired, the Glen Gower was the last vessel to leave St. Malo, when ‘sight and hearing were almost overwhelmed by the ruddy glow of flames, the flashes of gunfire, the shrieking of shells all around, and the noise of their explosion as they burst.’ On reaching Harwich, and much to Biddulph’s embarrassment, the Brigadier called for three cheers for him and his crew - a compliment quickly returned by his ship’s company. Biddulph was awarded the D.S.C., two ratings the D.S.M., and two more - including Darby - were mentioned in despatches.

Advanced to Petty Officer in September 1941, Darby won his second “mention” in the H.M.S. Frolic, a ship of the 42nd Minesweeping Flotilla based at Flushing and later still at Rosyth (London Gazette 13 June 1946). Frolic had earlier participated in operations off Normandy.

Demobilised in 1947, Darby joined the Fire Service and served in the Shropshire Brigade for 25 years, gaining the L.S. Medal in October 1967. He retired in September 1972; sold with copied service record and research, together with a picture post card of the Glen Gower.