Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘Submariners’ D.S.M. group of six awarded to Chief Stoker Petty Officer R. G. Shorrocks, Royal Navy, later Royal Fleet Reserve, for his service aboard H.M.S. Taku in the Mediterranean and off Norway 1941-44, during which this submarine sunk numerous enemy ships

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (Sto. P.O. R. G. Shorrocks, D/KX.82482) engraved naming; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue (KX.82482 R. G. Shorrocks. D.S.M. PO. B.26162. C.P.O.S.M. R.F.R.) mounted as worn, very fine (6) £800-£1,200

D.S.M. London Gazette 2 May 1944:
‘For outstanding courage, skill and devotion to duty in successful patrols in H.M. Submarines.’

The original recommendation states: ‘He has displayed good qualities of leadership and efficiency. He is unsparing to himself and has ability and knowledge superior to his position, as Chief Stoker in H.M.S. Taku, which he is always ready to use for the good of the ship and the Navy. He has carried out patrols in Taku both in the Mediterranean and Norwegian waters during which period five merchant vessels were sunk, one possibly sunk and several large caiques sunk or damaged by gunfire. During these actions, Stoker Petty Officer Shorrocks always displayed courage and devotion to duty of the highest order.’

Ronald Goulden Shorrocks was born on 24 February 1913 and entered the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class on 29 November 1932. Promoted Stoker First Class on 29 October 1933, on 7 September 1935 he was posted to H.M.S. Dolphin; the Submarine training base. On 14 December 1938, he was posted to Submarine H.M.S. H43, as Leading Stoker. Back at H.M.S. Dolphin on 8 May 1939, his next service afloat was with H.M.S. Umpire, from March 1941. By now a Stoker Petty Officer, on 19 July 1941 H.M.S. Umpire was sunk when it collided with an armed escort trawler. Of a crew of 31, 22 were killed and since Shorrocks’ service record shows his next posting as 20 July 1941, there is no reason to believe he was not one of the 9 survivors. Between 22 October 1941 and 7 May 1944, Shorrocks served aboard H.M.S. Taku (N38), a T-Class submarine with a complement of 59.

Arriving in Gibraltar in March 1942, H.M.S Taku commenced her 14th War patrol (Shorrocks’ first with this submarine) on 2 April. During the next two years, in both the Mediterranean and off the coast of Norway, H.M.S Taku would have a fair amount of success in sinking enemy shipping. This would include the Italian tanker Delfin, the Greek sailing vessels Niki, Lora and a small vessel which was unidentified. She also attacked, but failed to hit the German merchant ship Menes and the Italian tanker Cerere. Reassigned to operate off the Scandinavian coast in 1944, H.M.S. Taku sank the German merchantmen Rheinhausen and Hans Bornhofen, and badly damaged the German freighter Harm Fritzen. In March 1944, she attacked a convoy, but missed her target, the ex-Norwegian Kriegsmarine transport Moshill. On 13 April 1944, during her 25 War patrol, a mine exploded close to H.M.S. Taku, resulting in her to abort her patrol and return to base. This would be the last patrol Shorrocks took part with in this submarine. However for his service aboard her, he would be awarded the D.S.M.

On 8 May 1944, Shorrocks joined H.M.S. Trident, serving with this submarine for four months. He served aboard H.M.S. Aurochs from 4 April 1945 and was appointed Chief Stoker Petty Officer two weeks later. Shorrocks was discharged to the reserve on 17 May 1945.

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