Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War Aegean operations D.S.M. awarded to Temporary Acting Leading Seaman L. M. Carroll, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (Temp./A. Ldg. Smn. L. M. Carroll, P/SSX. 27005) extremely fine £1000-1200

D.S.M. London Gazette 4 April 1944: ‘For undaunted courage, determination and endurance in H.M. Ships Sirius, Penelope, Carlisle... in many sweeps against enemy shipping in the Aegean under fierce and constant attack from the air, and in maintaining supplies to the islands of Kos and Leros until they fell to superior enemy forces.’

The recommendation states: ‘Lionel Maurice Carroll, Ty. A/L. Sea. For undaunted courage, determination and endurance while serving in H.M.S. Sirius in the Aegean, in particular during an anti-ship strike on 6-7 October 1943.’

The enemy had been building up his forces on Kos with the object of attacking Leros, on which the British garrison numbered only 1,100 men. On the night of 6th-7th October the cruisers Sirius and Penelope and two destroyers were operating in the Aegean, and early on the 7th they intercepted an enemy convoy, consisting of an ammunition ship and six ferry barges, off Stampalia. A battalion of troops intended to reinforce Kos was embarked in the convoy, but only one barge survived the British ships’ attack. Over 400 men and the whole of the German battalion’s equipment were lost. After achieving this success the squadron withdrew by the Scarpanto Strait, where it was heavily attacked from the air. At first U.S.A.F. Lightnings gave effective cover; but when they had to return, the relief air escort failed to find the ships. Despite further attacks from the air, the ships got back to Alexandria safely.