Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second World War Coastal Forces D.S.M. group of six awarded to Able Seaman R. C. McGregor, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallantry manning the forward turret in M.G.B. 70 during an aircraft attack in August 1941

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (SSX. 17413 R. C. McGregor, A.B., R.N.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (SSX. 17413 R. C. McGregor, Ord. Smn., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, the first with officially corrected naming, generally very fine or better (6) £1000-1200

D.S.M. London Gazette 14 October 1941:

‘For courage and skill in action against enemy aircraft.’

The original recommendation states:

‘The .5 turret was very ably manned by Able Seaman R. C. McGregor. This rating fired continuously until blown out of his turret by a cannon shell. The turret then caught fire causing McGregor to lose his eyebrows, etc. He then climbed back into the turret, and although wounded in addition to the above, continued to man his gun. I attribute any damage to the enemy aircraft to his turret. He behaved in an exemplary fashion throughout the brief action.’

The attack in question occurred off Yarmouth, the enemy aircraft - a Dornier 215 - having earlier bombed and strafed H.M.S. Tonbridge. M.G.B. 70 suffered four casualties, namely two dangerously wounded, one seriously wounded and one slightly so. The ‘Jimmy the One’, Sub. Lieutenant D. J. Rook, R.N.V.R., also acted in a courageous manner, manning his stripped Lewis gun in face of very heavy machine-gun and cannon fire. He was mentioned in despatches; sold with copied Captain’s report.

Roland Chadwick McGregor was invested with his decoration at Buckingham Palace on 13 October 1942.