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

An extremely rare Second World War commando operations D.S.M. group of five awarded to Acting Temporary Leading Seaman L. A. King, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his bravery as a coxswain of a landing craft in “Operation Intemperate III”, a raid on the Island of Schouwen on the Dutch Coast in March 1945

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (A./Temp. L.S. L. A. King, C/JX. 379424); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals, the first with minor contact wear and edge bruising, generally good very fine or better (5) £2500-3000

D.S.M. London Gazette 19 June1945. The original recommendation states:

‘During this operation Leading Seaman King was coxswain and in command of L.C.A. 1386. This was the second consecutive night out, and he had unfortunately to take out a damaged craft. However he did not let this worry him, and throughout a very trying night of wind, strong tides, and of enemy fire, he remained calm, cheerful and very efficient. His craft was hit several times by small fire, but Leading Seaman King kept his head completely and did all that (and more than) was expected of him and proved an inspiration to the remainder of the crew. He has taken part in three other raids on the Island of Schouwen, and served with distinction on all of them.’

Leonard Albert King was serving in 508 L.C.A. Flotilla at the time of being recommended for his award, a unit of Force “T”, commanded by Captain A. F. Pugsley, R.N. In his history, The Marines Were There, Sir Robert Bruce Lockhart says of these raids against assorted Dutch Islands:

‘Great credit belongs to Captain A. F. Pugsley, R.N., the intrepid and resourceful commander of Force “T” which conducted these operations. By keeping the Germans constantly on the alert and thereby protecting the flank of the shipping route to Antwerp, this naval force rendered services out of all proportion to its size. Its craft were small, but its heart was big. Courage, initiative and an ever cheerful resourcefulness were the outstanding qualities of the officers and men who composed it. Stevenson it was who said that to travel hopefully is better than to arrive. Force “T” always travelled hopefully and it rarely missed its arrival platform. The officers and men of the Royal Marine Commandos share its glory and, as usual, they were in the front row of all its hazardous assaults.’

Further accolades appear in The Green Beret, The Story of the Commandos 1940-45, by Hilary St. George Saunders:

‘In the first eighteen days of March 1945, No. 48 (Royal Marine) Commando made five raids. All of them necessitated transport by the assault craft of Captain Pugsley’s Force “T”, who grappled manfully with the many problems set by strong tidal waters and shifting sand. Movement in the flooded islands could be made only along the dykes. It was the last days of the flying bombs, and these pilotless aircraft with their fiery tails frequently roared low over the heads of the raiders on their way to Antwerp. On one occasion two prisoners, ‘both miserable specimens, very frightened,’ were interrogated by the Commando Intelligence Officer, ‘resplendent in arctic clothing and a fur coat, looking for all the world like a polar explorer.’ The captain of one assault craft, used mainly by No. 41 (Royal Marine) Commando, always went into action wearing a top hat; he was a Dutchman. In these small operations such casualties as occurred were caused mostly by mines which strewed the muddy ground and rendered all movement, particularly at night, perilous.’