A rare Second World War ‘Special Operations’ D.S.M. group of six awarded to Leading Seaman L. J. Marchant, Royal Navy, a member of the African Coastal Flotilla

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (Ldg. Smn. L. J. Marchant, P/JX. 157642); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, extremely fine (6) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 15 August 1944:

‘For special operations.’

The original joint recommendation states:

‘The above named ratings joined the African Coastal Flotilla together in August 1942 and each had taken part in some 15 successful operations as Coxswain of local craft and in charge of surf boats between the mother ship and the shore. They have shared the discomforts, hazards and disappointments already described and have all displayed outstanding ability, initiative, zeal and coolness on operations. In particular, they have each shown remarkable capability in handling difficult situations with a total disregard of personal safety.’

Leonard John Marchant joined the African Coastal Flotilla (A.C.F.) on its formation at Gibraltar in August 1942, a top secret force that went on to carry out hundreds of undercover operations for British Military Intelligence, the Free French Intelligence, the Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.) and the American equivalent O.S.S. Comprising a motley collection of local fishing boats, the flotilla initially operated along the south coast of France, collecting agents (a.k.a. “Joeys”), escaped P.O.Ws and refracteurs who were one step ahead of the Gestapo, in addition to delivering agents and equipment for clandestine operations, often venturing under the noses of enemy shore batteries in the process. Undercover Sailors by A. Cecil Hampshire takes up the story:

‘The crew, apart from the two officers, consisted of a coxswain, motor mechanic, and two seamen, all volunteers. Navigational equipment included a compass, sextant and charts, and a good two-way radio was also carried. Throughout their clandestine voyages officers and men slopped around in civilian fishermen’s rig of weather-stained jerseys or smocks, trousers and seaboots, although certain items of naval uniform were also taken along in case they should be seized as francs tireurs.

The average time taken to reach a pinpoint from Gibraltar was five or six days, but in the face of head seas and strong winds voyages could take much longer, much to the discomfiture of any apprehensive agent due to be ‘exfiltrated’ and on the run from the enemy, to whom a few minutes of waiting could seem a lifetime. An average round trip covered a distance of up to about 1,400 miles, which involved some fourteen to sixteen days at sea. Life on board was very difficult, and in bad weather all hands quickly became soaked through, and they had to remain in their wet clothes since there was not a dry spot on board. During such times hot meals were out of the question and they had to subsist on corned beef.

The weather in the Gulf of Lions, though which their clandestine voyages customarily took them, is notoriously bad. Even in mid-summer when fine weather can normally be expected, gales are apt to blow up without warning and raise heavy seas, while sudden changes in the weather can occur between areas only a few miles apart. In winter, conditions can become as bad as any to be encountered in the North Atlantic.

After embarking her passengers in Gibraltar – known only to the crews of the feluccas as ‘Joeys’ - the vessel would leave harbour unobtrusively, and when about two miles out, all hands were required to set to work to paint the sides and deck structures in the colours normally favoured by local fishing craft, adding as a finishing touch a representation of the Spanish flag. On the last night of the return voyage to Gibraltar, the same procedure had to be gone through in reverse, substituting normal Navy grey paint and hoisting the White Ensign. Even so, on return to harbour, it was difficult to ward off the inquisitive who wanted to know how one had become so sunburnt and weatherbeaten. Questions such as these had to be adroitly parried since absolute secrecy was their only safeguard.’

Following “Operation Torch” at the end of 1942, the A.C.F. moved to Algiers with an advanced base at Bone, thereby allowing the flotilla to extend its sphere of operations to the Italian mainland and islands and, later still, after the Italian capitulation, to Dalmatia in support of Jugoslav partisans. And Marchant remained employed with the A.C.F. thoughout this period, finally removing to an appointment in Hannibal in late April 1944, when he was recommended for his D.S.M. - all in all the flotilla’s members were awarded two D.S.O.s, six D.S.Cs and 16 D.S.Ms.