Auction Catalogue

27 & 28 September 2016

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 804

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28 September 2016

Hammer Price:
£4,000

A Fine Second War Coastal Forces operations D.S.M. awarded to Petty Officer F. Atkinson, Royal Navy, a veteran of “E-Boat Alley”, who was decorated for his gallantry whilst serving as Coxswain of Motor Torpedo Boat 455 in a successful action against superior enemy forces on the night of 14-15 February 1944

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (P.O. F. Atkinson. C/JX. 141542.) in fitted case of issue, extremely fine

D.S.M. London Gazette 2 May 1944:

‘For gallant and distinguished services in Light Coastal Craft in successful engagements with the enemy.’

The original recommendation states:
‘For coolness and efficient performance of his duties in action. He ably performed his duties as coxswain under enemy fire, enabling a successful torpedo attack to be made on an enemy flak ship. His conduct was an inspiration to the remainder of the crew.’

Frank Atkinson
was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, in November 1918. He served during the Second War as Petty Officer in the Royal Navy, and was assigned to the Light Coastal Forces base H.M.S. Mantis, 1942-1944. During which time he served successively as Coxswain of M.G.B. 82 and M.T.B. 455, both under the command of Lieutenant Michael Rout, R.N.Z.N.V.R.

M.G.B.
82 was commissioned in April 1942, and Atkinson was first brought to notice after a successful attack on an enemy convoy off the Texel on 10/11 September that year. On this occasion three M.G.B.s under Lieutenant E.D.W. Leaf, D.S.C., R.N.V.R. worked in concert with two M.T.B.s under another renowned Coastal Forces leader, Lieutenant Peter Dickens, M.B.E., R.N. One enemy merchantman was believed sunk and at least one escort damaged, an action that brought Dickens a D.S.C., and is described by him in some detail in his memoir “Night Action”. Peter Scott’s account of it in “The Battle of the Narrow Seas” has it as “perfect in concept and execution”. For his part, Atkinson was said to have shown “coolness and determination in carrying out his duties as Coxswain of M.G.B. 82 under fire.”

The action that brought Atkinson his D.S.M. and led to Derek Leaf’s death began on the evening of 14 February 1944, when a group of six E-Boats crossed the North Sea with the intention of laying mines off the East coast. They were detected by shore radar and driven off by two Harwich-based corvettes; as they withdrew, a unit of Light Coastal Forces was racing to intercept them, Lieutenant E.D.W. Leaf being the senior officer. Among his force of five craft was M.T.B.
455, with Frank Atkinson as Coxswain, under his old skipper, Michael Rout. The British boats were too late to intercept, and so Leaf took the decision to pursue them to Ijmuiden. Although they did not realise it at the time, the British were themselves being hunted by the E-Boats which had turned back, expecting to be followed. In “The Battle of the Narrow Seas” Peter Scott describes this deliberate attempt at contact as ‘a hitherto almost unknown phenomenon’, and recounts the ensuing events:

“As Leaf approached the Dutch coast he came upon a defence patrol consisting of a medium-sized flakship and two trawlers, and he made up his mind at once to attack, putting into operation a pre-arranged plan. In his force he had five seventy-one-foot-six boats, one of which was fitted with torpedo tubes. This boat was detached to attack with torpedoes while the four gunboats went in to draw the enemy’s fire. It was the old combined attack, only on a smaller scale, and it was entirely successful. Both M.T.B.
455’s torpedoes hit the target, and a few moments later her guns scored hits on the leading trawler, while Leaf engaged the rear trawler at 100 yards and left it silenced and burning. When the shore batteries joined in our force withdrew to re-form, reload and attack again. As they did so, steering north-west at high speed, they ran straight towards another enemy ship which they did not see until the range was very short. Leaf’s boat was heavily hit and suffered serious casualties. The rest of the force made answer as they went past, apparently to good effect, but it was too late to save their leader. Leaf himself and three ratings had been killed and two others wounded.”

M.T.B.
455 escaped with slight damage to her superstructure and one seaman seriously wounded. Other awards besides Atkinson’s included a D.S.C. for her skipper, and the 2-pounder pom-pom gunner received a Mention in Despatches. Some bureaucratic shuffling of recommendation dates ensured that Derek Leaf received a bar to his D.S.C., despite his death.

Atkinson left M.T.B.
455 soon after the action, receiving his medal at an investiture held on June 6 1944. He returned to Grantham after the war and died there in 1983. The precarious nature of life in Coastal Forces is illustrated by the fact that his successor as M.T.B. 455’s Coxswain, Petty Officer John Hobson, was mortally wounded in the vessel’s next major action, on the night of May 10th 1944.

Sold with Admiralty letter to the recipient informing him of the award of the D.S.M., and various other letters and notices.