Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce ‘Anzio landings’ Beach Commando D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Petty Officer Sydney Fearn, Royal Navy, who, despite his own wounds, refused medical aid until all his men had been attended to; he was previously mentioned in despatches for gallantry during the sinking of H.M.S. Thanet by a superior Japanese force off Malaya, and for subsequently assisting to bring a party of 18 men south from Japanese occupied territory after the ship had been sunk in what was the last significant naval action with the Japanese before the fall of Singapore

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (P.O. S. Fearn, D/JX.142689) officially engraved naming; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Pacific Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted as worn, nearly very fine (7) £2,000-£2,600

D.S.M. London Gazette 1 August 1944: ‘For outstanding courage, leadership, resource and determination during the assault on Anzio and in subsequent bombardments in support of the Army and in maintaining an unbroken flow of supplies which accomplished the building up of the beachhead despite bombing, mining and bombardment by shore batteries.’

The original recommendation states: ‘On 6 February 1944 this Petty Officer in company with several naval ratings was wounded by a bursting shell. Although bleeding profusely his first thoughts were for the men under his command and he refused medical aid until all his men had been attended to.’

Petty Officer Fearn was recommended by Acting Captain E. C. L. Turner, R.N., Naval Officer in Charge, Anzio, who was awarded the D.S.O. in the same gazette. Fearn was a member of K Commando, Royal Naval Beach Commando, and served on the Staff of Captain Turner, N.O.I.C. Anzio (Beachhead Assault by David Lee refers).

The D.S.M. was presented to Petty Officer Sydney Fearn by King George VI at Buckingham Palace on 13 March 1945.

M.I.D. London Gazette 16 June 1942: ‘For gallantry, steadfastness and devotion to duty in H.M.A.S. Vampire and H.M.S. Thanet in a night action with a superior Japanese force.’

The original recommendation for an ‘Immediate’ M.I.D. states: ‘He set a splendid example not only to his gun’s crew (”X” gun) in keeping the gun in action under difficult conditions, but also in assisting to bring the party of 18 men south from Japanese occupied territory after the ship had sunk.’ One Posthumous and ten M.I.Ds. were awarded for this action; no other awards were given.

The Honours and Awards Committee reported:

‘H.M.A.S. Vampire and H.M.S. Thanet fought a night action with a superior Japanese force 26/27th January 1942 off Endau, in which H.M.S. Thanet was sunk. The two ships were well lead by the Commanding Officer of H.M.A.S. Vampire. Both fought with gallantry. After the engagement high qualities of leadership were shown by members of H.M.S. Thanet’s ship’s Company in bringing parties of survivors to safety.’

Attached to the Honours and Awards Committee report is that of Lieutenant-Commander B. S. Davies, commanding H.M.S. Thanet, who states that after Thanet was hit by a shell in the engine room, ‘the ship gave a violent lurch and swung to starboard, stopped and became unmanageable. The only guns that would bear were “X” guns and the pompom but the whole of the after part of the ship became enveloped in steam rendering it practically untenable.’ Shortly afterwards he gave the order to abandon ship. Whilst some survivors were picked up by the Japanese destroyers, never to be heard of again and supposedly executed, Lt.-Cdr Davies and many other survivors managed to find their way to shore after some two and a half hours in the water. Finding a small boat they were able to paddle their way south until eventually picked up by the Giang Bee late on the 29th January.

Lt.-Cdr Davies, in turn, attaches the report of Lieutenant Flint R.N.V.R., who brought another party south who were picked up on the 30th, also by Giang Bee. Petty Officer Fearn was in this party and was brought to notice by Lieutenant Flint, as described in his M.I.D. recommendation above.