Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A superb Second War 1940 D.S.M. group of six awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer J. G. Buchannan, Royal Navy, a highly experienced submariner who was killed during the surface battle between H.M. Submarine Triad and the Italian submarine Enrico Toti - During the action, which lasted 30 minutes, torpedoes, shells and machine guns were used, the two submarines at times at such close a range ‘that an angered Italian gunner threw his shoes at the head of his British counterpart as he could not yet fire the gun’

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (M.21997 J. G. Buchanan. C.E.R.A.1. H.M.S. Triad.) prefix to number officially corrected; British War Medal 1914-20 (M.21997 J. G. Buchanan. B.Art. R.N.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (M.21997 J. G. Buchanan E.R.A.1. R.N.); Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (M.21997 J. G. Buchanan. E.R.A.1. H.M.S. Lucia.) toned, nearly extremely fine (6) £1,400-£1,800

D.S.M. London Gazette 28 June 1940:
‘In recognition of daring, endurance and resource in the conduct of hazardous and successful operations in His Majesty's Submarines against the enemy.’

John Gibson Buchanan was born in Glasgow on 16 March 1901. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Seaman in 1916, being shown as serving at H.M.S. Indus from 28 July 1916 until 5 January 1921 (not entitled to a Victory Medal). Having been promoted Engine Room Artificer Fourth Class by 1922, he continued to serve, joining H.M.S. Dolphin, the Royal Navy’s Submarine base, on 7 December 1926. Between May 1929 and January 1939, Buchanan served aboard a large number of submarines. These submarines were of various Classes and included ones with a compliment as few as 22, to larger submarines with crews numbers in the 50’s and 60’s. Sailing from various Naval bases, these included H.M. Submarines; K26, L21, L27, H34, Pandora, Thames and H.M. Submarine Porpoise.

On 1 July 1939, Buchannan, now a highly experienced submariner, rated Acting Chief Engine Room Artificer, joined H.M. Submarine Triad (N53), a T-Class Vickers Armstrong built submarine, launched just two months earlier. With a compliment of 59 and under Command of Lieutenant-Commander Jonas, Triad was deployed at Rosyth with the 2nd Submarine Flotilla from 1 October 1939. On 14 October, she departed on her first War Patrol, which was to patrol off the South coast of Norway. Returning on 5 November, Triad would return to the coast of Norway for another 5 patrols between November 1939 and March 1940. On 11 April, during Triad’s seventh war patrol and now under Lieutenant-Commander Oddie, she sank the German transport Ionia off the entrance to Oslo Fjord. During the following four months, Triad would complete another 4 patrols in the same area, attacking shipping on a number of occasions, being attacked by German aircraft and ships and encountering U-boats a couple of times.

On 29 August 1940, H.M. Submarine Triad, now under Lieutenant-Commander Salt, set off for service in the Mediterranean with the 1st Submarine Flotilla. Arriving at Gibraltar on 6 September, she set off on her 12th war patrol; patrolling off the Tyrrhenian Sea. Ending this patrol on the 2 October, Triad departed from Malta to Alexandria her 13th and final patrol on 9 October 1940. On passage she sighted the Italian submarine Enrico Toti, the following describes the action that followed:

‘At 01:00 on 15 October, Enrico Toti sighted a large submarine 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) to port: both boats manoeuvred into attack position. Italian accounts claim the British opened fire first, but all of Triad's shells missed. She also fired a torpedo which Enrico Toti avoided by turning sharply, then closed on the enemy submarine at top speed, firing as she approached. Soon, machine gun fire compelled the British gunners to abandon the exposed deck. As the British submarine started to dive, Enrico Toti fired a torpedo and hit the British submarine with two 120 mm shells. The boat rose vertically then disappeared without survivors. The action lasted around 30 minutes. Famous Italian writer Dino Buzzati, then a very young navy war correspondent gave a lively account of the Triad vs Enrico Toti engagement. Buzzati interviewed officers and sailors of Enrico Toti on its return to base and published the story in October 1940. According to sailors testimonies the commanding officer of Enrico Toti held his gun fire until he was in a favourable position to launch a torpedo, but both ships were so close that an angered Italian gunner threw his shoes at the head of his British counterpart as he could not yet fire the gun…’

Chief Engine Room Artificer Buchannan was amongst those killed, and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Memorial.