Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War D.S.M. group of five awarded to Chief Stoker M. J. O’Callaghan, Royal Navy: a probable veteran of the Bismarck action, he went on to witness the German surrender at Copenhagen in May 1945

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (Ch. Sto. M. J. O’Callaghan, P/K. 59580); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf, good very fine and better (5) £600-800

D.S.M. London Gazette 11 December 1945: ‘For distinguished service during the War in Europe.’

Mention in despatches London Gazette 11 June 1942.

Michael John O’Callaghan was recommended for his D.S.M. towards the end of the War, while serving in the cruiser H.M.S. Birmingham. Having been seriously damaged by a torpedo strike in the Mediterranean, off Cyrenaica, in November 1943, the Birmingham only rejoined the Home Fleet in time for the closing stages of hostilities, but was chief among those ships to take the surrender of the German Naval forces at Copenhagen in May 1945:

‘The British warships, which had been steaming for two days, forcing a passage through German minefields in the Skagerrak and Kattegat, to reach Copenhagen, were met by a Danish pilot outside the fine harbour ... When the German ships came in sight it could be seen that, although the crews crowded along the guard-rails, not one ship was flying a flag. The Birmingham, on the other hand, was dressed with three large White Ensigns, and the Germans saw her as they would have seen her in battle. The whole ship’s company, too, was alert for any sign of treachery on the part of the Germans. Knowing this, the Royal Marine Band, playing on the quarterdeck, must have felt rather like stool-pigeons. But there was no fight left in the Germans. The only offensive gesture was that of a merchant vessel, whose crew had been fallen in with their backs to the British ships. Moving slowly to the quayside, the Birmingham passed the Prinz Eugen. Hundreds of men crowded the upper deck of the German ship which had once had the audacity to run the gauntlet through the Straits of Dover. There was no uniformity about the ship itself. Guns were trained in various directions and there was a general air of dejection. A similar picture was presented by the Nurnberg, lying at another quay ...’

O’Callaghan’s earlier “mention” was for services in the battleship King George V, services that may well have included the Bismarck action of May 1941. On that memorable occasion the King George V was in at the “kill”, her armament being brought to bear from as little as 3000 yards range.