Auction Catalogue

5 & 6 December 2018

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 82

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5 December 2018

Hammer Price:
£1,000

A Second War 1942 ‘Operation Harpoon’ D.S.M. group of six awarded to Leading Air Fitter A. P. J. Daniels, Fleet Air Arm, later Sub Lieutenant in the Royal Navy - in which rank he was killed during the Korean War when his helicopter crashed into the sea shortly after take off, 15 December 1952

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (FX.76922 A. P. Daniels. L. Air. Ftr. F.A.A.) partially officially corrected; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp,North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted for display, generally very fine or better (6) £1,200-£1,600

Provenance: Spink, March 1994.

D.S.M.
London Gazette 22 September 1942:

‘For bravery and resolution in H.M. Ships...
Argus... while escorting an important convoy to Malta.’

The original recommendation states:

‘Selected as having consistently shown keenness and efficiency and moreover behaved with outstanding courage and coolness in
Harpoon whilst working under fire to maintain the serviceability of fighter aircraft.’

Alan Philip James Daniels was born in May 1923, and in later life was a resident of Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol. He served as a Leading Air Fitter with the Fleet Air Arm during the Second War. His service included with the Fleet Carrier H.M.S. Argus, and it was whilst serving with her during Operation Harpoon that he distinguished himself. The latter operation was a convoy designed to deliver six supply ships from the UK to Malta. They sailed from the UK, 5 June 1942, and passed through the Straits of Gibraltar on the night of 11 June. The six merchantmen, carrying 43,000 tons of cargo, were to be escorted to the Sicilian Narrows by the carriers Argus, and Eagle, the battleship Malaya, four cruisers and 17 destroyers. The convoy was well into the Mediterranean by 14 June, when heavy German and Italian air attacks were launched against them. As a consequence one merchantman and one destroyer were sunk. Further heavy air attacks continued until the convoy reached the narrows that night. The convoy proceeded to Malta with a reduced escort, and only two of the merchantmen made it through to Malta the following day.

Daniels continued to serve after the war, and was commissioned Sub Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, 30 April 1949. Whilst serving during the Korean War, he was part of a helicopter crew that crashed into the sea after taking off from a ship, 15 December 1952. Daniels was listed as ‘missing presumed drowned’, and is commemorated on the UN Wall of Rembrance, Pusan, Korea.