Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War Mediterranean operations D.S.M. group of six awarded to Able Seaman F. H. Topliss, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (JX. 285596 F. H. Topliss, A.B.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, generally extremely fine (6) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals for Services at Sea from the Collection of the Late Oliver Stirling Lee.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 14 December 1943: ‘For courage, endurance and skill in minelaying operations.’

Frederick Howard Topliss was decorated for his services in the Mediterranean aboard H.M.S. Abdiel, and, more specifically, for his deeds on the occasion of her loss when she was mined off Taranto on 10 September 1943, two days after the Italian capitulation (Seedie’s refers). Six officers and 42 ratings were lost, but Topliss was among the survivors, and received his D.S.M. at an investiture held on 31 July 1945.

Quite probably, Topliss had shared in her earlier honours for “Crete 1941” and “Libya 1941”, a summary of that period having been made by a previous Admiralty Honours and Awards Committee:

‘Soon after commissioning, H.M.S. Abdiel was called upon to undertake two hazardous minelaying operations. From April 1941 onwards she was stationed in the Mediterranean, where her duties included minelaying off Cephalonia, service in the withdrawal from Crete, service as a Flotilla Leader, as a destroyer and as a A.A. cruiser. She also transported stores and troops to Cyprus and Tobruk, making no less than fourteen passages to the Libyan port. She has since been concerned in operations which, from a navigational point of view, have been of much danger. The spirit of her company has throughout been excellent and she has performed all her varied duties with success.’

In passing, it is worth noting that Oliver Stirling Lee served aboard the Abdiel too, and was also present in her at the evacuation of Crete.