Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Second World War capture of Elba D.S.C. group of eight awarded to Commander P. W. Spencer, Royal Navy, who added a “mention” to his accolades for the invasion of the South of France and went on to witness further active service in the Korean War

Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1944’; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Korea 1950-53 (Lt. Cdr., R.N.); U.N. Korea, contact marks, otherwise generally good very fine (8) £2500-3000

D.S.C. London Gazette 5 September 1944. The original recommendation states:

‘During the landing on the south coast of Elba, Lieutenant Peter W. Spencer, R.N., in H.D.M.L. 1301 was responsible for finding Louise Green beach and for landing nine L.C.As carrying the French Battalion de Choc, at 0100 on 17 June 1944.

After releasing the craft for the last position of their run-in, H.D.M.L. 1301 was attacked by a German ‘F’ Lighter. In the action which followed, the Commanding Officer of H.D.M.L. 1301 was killed, and the First Lieutenant wounded. Lieutenant Spencer took charge and brought the H.D.M.L. back to S.N.O. (L.) in L.C. (H.) 315, four miles from the beach, in time to lead in the U.S. Landing Craft in the main assault on Kodak Green beach at 0400. This officer displayed outstanding gallantry, initiative and determination of purpose.’

The covering remarks of The C.-in-C., Mediterranean, state:

‘This recommendation is strongly concurred in. The successful manner in which the U.S. Landing Craft were manoeuvred and brought to the assault under heavy fire after the damage and casualties sustained by H.D.M.L. 1301 in her encounter with the enemy three hours previously, was a splendid example of resolution and fighting spirit.’

Mention in despatches London Gazette 27 March 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘Lieutenant Peter William Spencer, R.N., was embarked in P.T. 210 leading in the preliminary landings and subsequently forming the Reference Vessel for the ROMEO Unit of SITKA Group. As Boat Control Officer he was responsible both in the planning and execution for the timing and many details of the assault.’

Peter William Spencer, a native of Newton Abbot, was recommended for his D.S.C. by the S.N.O., (Landing) P1, Naval Party 893, and by the Office of the Commander Task Group 86.3, U.S.S. Omaha, for his “mention” - he received his D.S.C. at an investiture held on 11 May 1945.

Of the events surrounding H.D.M.L. 1301’s engagement with a German ‘F’ Lighter off Elba on 17 June 1943, Taffrail’s history, Western Mediterranean 1942-45, states:

‘Lieutenant P. W. Spencer, R.N., was on board H.D.M.L. 1301, commanded by Lieutenant F. L. Carter, R.N.V.R. Leading nine L.C.As and two L.C.Ss, he had left Captain Turner ten minutes before midnight on his way to the beach about two miles west of Campo Bay. From here the troops were to make their way across the rough hilly country to the east to deal with the enemy batteries, overlooking Campo Bay and the main landing beaches.

Creeping silently on to within 1800 yards of the dark shore, Spencer, who was in charge of this part of the operation, verified the position, and told Lieutenant R. H. Farey, in charge of the L.C.As, to go on. This was 0.40 a.m.

Listening to the receding throb of engines, those on board H.D.M.L. 1301, which lay stopped, watched the blurred shapes of the small craft fade away and disappear under the dark shadow of the land. They showed no lights. The night was clear. The sharp peaks of the island lay silhouetted like carved ebony against the deep indigo of the night sky.

The engine noises died away. Except for the faint rippling of water alongside, the hum of the dynamo below and occasional muffled conversation, hardly a sound disturbed the stillness on board the waiting M.L. It was a period of nervous tension. Would those troops be able to land unseen? Ashore the enemy showed no signs of being on the alert. There were no suspicious-looking lights - nothing. Nevertheless, some twenty minutes before there had been some short bursts of gunfire and streams of tracer bullets away over the sea to the south-westward in the direction of Pianosa.

The minutes passed. Then, at 0.55, those on board the M.L. suddenly saw the glimmer of a bow wave and the dark shape of an approaching vessel about 400 yards on the port bow. Long and low in the water, it looked like an ‘F’ Lighter. It was. Within a second or two they heard the unmistakable gabble of German voices.


It was an exciting moment. The L.C.As had not yet touched down on the beach. Since it was vitally important that their troops should land unseen, Spencer hoped that the little M.L. would not be sighted. An order was passed to the guns to train on the enemy and to stand by.

The Germans, however, warned no doubt by their previous encounter with the P.T. boats, were fully on the alert. Within ten seconds of being sighted, the ‘F’ Lighter opened up a furious fire with heavy and light machine-guns. The M.L. retaliated at once, some of her men hearing screams from the enemy as Oerlikon shell swept their decks and burst amidst the eddies of wreathing smoke. The guns thudded and crackled. Streams of red and white tracer shot across the intervening water. Shell, splinters and bullets hissed overhead and spurted into the sea. Many drove home. Before the enemy broke off the engagement to disappear in the direction of Campo Bay, Carter, 1301’s commanding officer, was killed on his bridge, and his First Lieutenant and five ratings wounded. Spencer, who was untouched, took over command, and by the mercy of heaven the M.L. was not seriously damaged.’

Remarkably, in the circumstances, and as related in the recommendation for his D.S.C., Spencer went on to carry out his duties with the U.S. Landing Craft assigned to the main landing on Kodak Green beach at 0400, once more facing heavy fire. Taffrail continues:

‘The roar of battle rose to a crescendo. Spencer, in H.D.M.L. 1301, with 14 L.C.V.Ps, passed the Triglia rock at about 3.45. Guns were firing from Monte Poro on the west, and the slopes of Monte Fonza on the east. More cannon-fire came from the village of Marina di Campo. “Though many of the bursts seemed close, no craft in the wave was hit,” Spencer wrote later. “Later, when the beach was sighted, machine-gun and small arms fire came from the beach area and there were a few casualties in the L.C.V.Ps.” A smoke-screen laid by the support craft was invaluable.’

Spencer was advanced to Commander in January 1955 following service off Korea in the aircraft carrier Theseus 1950-51.