Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare Second World War submariner’s D.S.M. and Bar group of eight awarded to Petty Officer B. Morton, Royal Navy: having been decorated for his services in the Tuna in 1940, he went on to win a Bar as Coxswain of the Shakespeare in the Mediterranean in 1943, the latter commission witnessing a victorious “Sub-on-Sub” encounter with the Italian Velella

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverse of the latter with privately impressed date ‘1943’ (JX. 128230 B. Morton, P.O., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (JX. 128230 P.O., H.M.S. Shakespear (sic)), generally good very fine (8) £5000-6000

D.S.M. London Gazette 13 November 1940:

‘For good services in H.M. submarines in recent patrols and operations against the enemy.’

The original recommendation states:

‘This submarine carried out a highly resolute and successful patrol between 30 August and 5 September 1940, during which a contact with enemy submarines was made on four occasions. An attack by torpedoes was carried out on the first occasion and subsequent evidence indicated that the enemy was most probably destroyed. Determined but unsuccessful attempts to maintain A./S. contacts and to press home an attack were made on the other occasions; torpedoes were fired at one contact but missed.

The success was mainly due to the presence of mind and to a quick appreciation of the situation shown by the Commanding Officer and First Lieutenant. This was the first war patrol carried out by the Commanding Officer.

Benjamin Morton, Petty Officer: For cool and efficient conduct as look-out and subsequent working of the fore planes.’

Bar to D.S.M. London Gazette 23 November 1943:

‘For bravery and skill in successful patrols in one of H.M. submarines.’

The original recommendation states:

‘During the course of seven Mediterranean patrols, Shakespeare has sunk one Italian U-boat, one escorted 5,000 ton supply ship by torpedo, two 200 ton schooners by gunfire, and bombarded an enemy aerodrome.

Four special operations have been carried out in connection with large scale landing operations. Two of the latter have entailed obtaining special reconnaissance under most hazardous conditions.

For outstanding leadership and devotion to duty as Coxswain of H.M. Submarine Shakespeare during the above successful patrols.’

Benjamin Morton, a native of Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight, was born in December 1910 and entered the Royal Navy in December 1928. Having joined the submarine branch in February 1936, he was serving aboard H.M. Submarine Regulus on the outbreak of hostilities, but in July 1940 he removed to the Tuna, aboard which submarine he served until November of the same year, the period in which he won his first D.S.M. Commanded by Lieutenant-Commander M. K. Cavenagh-Mainwaring, who won a D.S.O. on the same occasion, Tuna was also credited with an 8,000 ton supply ship off the Gironde in the same period, and later sank a tanker which was escorted by two destroyers - the whole as part of the Admiralty’s new plan to “police” the Bay of Biscay.

Having received his D.S.M. at an investiture in March 1941, Morton joined the Shakespeare (a.k.a. P. 221) in May 1942, and between then and April 1944 he served as her Coxswain and added a Bar to his D.S.M. Commanded by Lieutenant M. F. R. Ainslie, who won a D.S.O. for the same operational period, Shakespeare did indeed enjoy a busy and successful commission as part of the 8th Submarine Flotilla in the Mediterranean, one of her more notable achievements being her victorious “Sub-on-Sub” encounter with the Italian Velella in the Gulf of Salerno on 7 September 1943 - Ainslie fired a salvo of six torpedoes, four of which found their mark with spectacular results (‘there was not much left of the enemy submarine’). It was in this same patrol that the Shakespeare carried out one of her ‘special operations’, namely the delivery of a C.O.P.P. party, including three S.B.S. men, for beach reconnaissance work, the type of clandestine activity that often befell a submarine’s lot in the Mediterranean at this time - namely the Allied landings in Sicily and Italy. So, too, the risk of attack from prowling aircraft - including the Allied variety - one such incident being described by Ainslie in his war patrol report for June 1943:

‘The Officer of the Watch reported an aircraft attacking from the starboard beam. Almost as soon as sighted the aircraft delivered its attack - a type not previously experienced. The whole thing was over in a few seconds, the sequence of events being as follows: firstly, a sheet of sparks and flame from the aircraft, secondly, a deafening roar and thirdly, several projectiles hitting the water some 20 to 30 feet short of the submarine just before the conning tower. There was no explosion but personnel inside the submarine stated afterwards that they were quite convinced at the time that we had been hit by a torpedo or bomb, the noise was so great, and the submarine jumped to such an extent.’

Having received the Bar to his D.S.M. at an investiture held in March 1944, Morton’s final wartime submarine appointment was in the Torbay in the Far East from June of that year until the end of hostilities, and he returned to “General Service’ in April 1948.