Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Second War D.S.C. group of seven awarded to Commander J. Staniforth, Royal Naval Volunteer (Supplementary) Reserve, who served as a Landing Craft Flotilla Officer in the Sicily, Italy and South of France Landings

Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1945’, in Garrard, London, case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; together with the original Buckingham Palace forwarding letter for the D.S.C., in the name of ‘Lieut. Commander J. Staniforth, D.S.C., R.N.V.(S.).R.’, extremely fine (7) £1,200-£1,600

D.S.C. London Gazette 11 December 1945.

The original recommendation states: ‘Acting Temporary Lieutenant-Commander Jack Staniforth, H.M.S. Hamilcar. L.C.M. Flotilla Officer during the landings in Sicily and Italy, subsequently he became a Squadron Commander in the South of France landings. This officer is recommended for outstanding operational services in Minor Landing Craft during the last two years in the Mediterranean. He was commended by General Montgomery and by Rear-Admiral MacGregor for the fine work of his L.C.M.’s during the South of Italy landings. The Squadron Commander of “C” L.C.T. Squadron reports on this officer as follows: “I was very impressed with the very efficient way in which he organised and ran his Squadron during the landings in the South of France.” ’

Jack Staniforth, a native of Sheffield, was appointed a Sub Lieutenant in the “Wavy Navy” in May 1942 and by the end of the year was attending a Landing Craft training centre at Hayling Island. He remained employed in this sphere of operations for the remainder of the War, subsequent appointments including the Commando establishment at Largs and, as an Acting Temporary Lieutenant-Commander, Hamilcar, the base in Algeria and later Messina.