Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

A fine Second World War Malta operations D.S.M. group of eight awarded to Petty Officer N. Jeffrey, Royal Navy: he had earlier been “mentioned” for his work in the destroyer “Kingston” in the withdrawal from Greece

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (JX.140947 N. Jeffrey, P.O.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (JX.140947 Boy 1, R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf, good very fine and better (8) £800-1000

D.S.M. London Gazette 6 October 1942. The original recommendation states:

‘For courage, leadership and devotion to duty as senior hand of a party of ratings lent to H.M. Trawler Ancient as relief crew. During a series of very severe air raids the tug was damaged by a near miss and began to make water fast. Even after she was beached she continued to flood. By working unceasingly all night, P.O. Jeffrey and his party of four succeeded in saving the ship.’

An accompanying note states:

‘This recommendation was prepared by Commander P. Somerville, D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N., but he was killed before he had the opportunity of signing it.’

Mention in despatches London Gazette 11 November 1941:

‘For gallantry and distinguished services in operations in Greek Waters.’

Noel Jeffrey was actually a crew member of the destroyer H.M.S. Kingston, and had only been temporarily loaned to H.M. Trawler Ancient on the afternoon of 26 March 1942, the date of his D.S.M.-winning exploits, as a result of ongoing enemy air raids against shipping in Grand Harbour. He and his relief crew of four men, and Mate of Yardcraft Thomas Emery, were in the process of going to the assistance of the M.V. Talabot, when the Ancient was put out of action by a near bomb miss. As stated in his recommendation, it was largely as a result of Jeffrey’s subsequent actions that the trawler was successfully beached. Emery, too, was rewarded for his efforts, receiving the B.E.M.

As a crew member of the Kingston, Jeffrey would have been no stranger to enemy action, as indeed confirmed by his earlier “mention” for services in the withdrawal from Greece. She was also heavily engaged during the evacuation of Crete, and on regular Malta convoy work, culminating with her part in the Second Battle of Sirte in March 1942, when she was damaged by a 15-inch enemy shell. As a result, she was placed in No. 4 dock for repairs at Malta but was hit by bombs on 11 April 1942, rolled over and became a total loss - it was on this same occasion that Jeffrey’s C.O. and 23 other men of Kingston’s crew were killed, an enemy bomb hitting the tunnel in which they were taking shelter. No better account of the Kingston’s exceptional wartime record can be found than that contained in Christopher Langtree’s The Kelly’s, British J, K & N Class Destroyers of World War II, an account that also includes several evocative photographs of her.

Jeffrey was invested with his D.S.M. in June 1944, and is believed to have finished the War serving in aircraft carriers.