Auction Catalogue

2 April 2004

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 1285

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2 April 2004

Hammer Price:
£1,400

A Second World War “Operation Harpoon” D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Able Seaman G. Langhorn, Royal Navy: few Malta convoys, “Pedestal” included, were as heavily contested as “Harpoon”

Distinguished Service Medal
, G.VI.R. (JX. 256636 G. Langhorn, A.B); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals the first with edge bruising, generally very fine (7) £800-1000

D.S.M. London Gazette 22 September 1942. The joint recommendation states:

‘Both ratings manned Oerlikon guns and made best use of their chances to good effect. The fire from both guns was seen repeatedly to hit the vital parts of an enemy aircraft which crashed into the sea close to
Onslow. The accuracy of their fire resulted in damage to at least one other aircraft.’

George Langhorn was serving in the destroyer H.M.S.
Onslow at the time of the above related incidents during “Operation Harpoon” in June 1942 - Onslow formed part of Force W, a sizeable flotilla of capital and smaller ships that provided cover for the six merchantmen until reaching the Sicilian Narrows. Just two of these merchantmen eventually got through, the remainder falling victim to air attack. Indeed around 200 enemy aircraft attacked the convoy and escort over a period of several days, some 16 of them falling victim to ships’ guns, Onslow’s among them. Of the escort, two destroyers were lost, and a cruiser, three other destroyers and a minesweeper damaged.

It is interesting to speculate whether Langhorn was still serving in the
Onslow a few months later, in December 1942, when she fought her epic battle in the Barents Sea against the mighty Hipper, a contest that left her with over a third of her complement dead or wounded. Captain R. St. V. Sherbrooke, her Captain, was awarded the V.C.