Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Petty Officer E. R. Davies, Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Reserve, who was M.I.D. for his gallantry with the destroyer H.M.S Paladin during the Battle of the Cigno Convoy, 16 April 1943

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Burma Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 1st issue (SSX26592 E. R. Davies. POB.20316 P.O. R.F.R.) remnants of lacquer, generally very fine (7) £180-£220

M.I.D. London Gazette 27 July 1943, the original recommendation states:

‘This rating was the searchlight control number on the Bridge during the action reported in the above quoted letter. In an action where success depended largely on good illumination of the target he operated the searchlight with great skill under the difficult conditions caused by rapid alterations of course and gunfire.’

Edwin Ronald Davies was born in Pontypridd, Wales in November 1920. He joined the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman in August 1938, and served with H.M.S. Paladin (destroyer )from December 1941. Service included as part of the Eastern Fleet when she took part in the operations following the sinking of the heavy cruisers Cornwall and Dorsetshire on 5 April 1942, and assisted in the recovery of approximately 1,120 men, many of whom were in the shark-infested water for 30 hours. In June 1942 the Paladin was loaned to the Mediterranean fleet and took part in Operations Vigourous and Harpoon, and the following year she also took part in Operations Husky and Avalanche.

Davies was M.I.D. for his services during the Battle of the Cigno Convoy, 16 April 1943:

‘Early on 16 April Pakenham and Paladin engaged the Italian Spica-class torpedo boats Cigno and Cassiopea, which were the forward escort of a convoy composed of the transport ship Belluno and the torpedo boat Tifone, which was carrying aviation fuel for Bizerte in her fore holds. While Belluno and Tifone slipped away, the forward escort fought a short action, in which Cigno was disabled by gunfire from Pakenham, then torpedoed by Paladin and sunk. Cassiopea limped away badly damaged. However, Pakenham was hit by shell fire from Cassiopea six times, disabling her engines and a boiler. Ten members of her crew were killed in action. Paladin attempted to tow her to Malta, but by morning the threat of enemy air attacks forced her to embark Pakenham's crew, and then sank her by torpedo southwest off Sicily at position.’ (Destroyer Down: An Account of HM Destroyer Losses 1939-1945, by A. E. Evans refers)

Davies advanced to Petty Officer in January 1945, and enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve in January the following year. He was discharged from the R.F.R. in August 1960.

Sold with the following related items and documents: riband bar and other cloth insignia; M.I.D. Certificate, dated 27 July 1943; Parchment Certificate of Service; Certificate for Wounds and Hurts, dated 16 February 1953; Torpedo History Sheet; Trade Certificate; and Recommendations for Advancement and Conduct Record Sheet.