A Second World War Coastal Forces D.S.M. awarded to Able Seaman G. T. Hammett, M.T.B. 77, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (JX.238234 G. T. Hammett, A.B.) in its presentation case, together with original Certificate of Service and Certificate of Identity for claiming Gratuity of £20 for the award of the D.S.M., small erasure before naming, otherwise nearly extremely fine

D.S.M. London Gazette 21 December 1943. D/JX 238234 George Thomas Hammett, A.B., MTB 77. Awarded for two actions with E-Boats in the Mediterranean on 15 July 1943. The following details are taken from Flag 4 by Dudley Pope:

‘The next night, the 15th/16th, the short boats had their first real brush with E-boats since the assault on Sicily started. Four boats of the 7th Flotilla, 77 (under the temporary command of S/Lt. E. Lassen), 82 (Lt. C. A. Rees), which was fitted out as a gunboat, 57 (Lt. J. Aimers), also a gunboat, and 62 (Lt. C. Finch), were under the S.O., Lt. Blomfield, who was embarked in 77. The unit was lying stopped in the Messina Straits when, at 2240, five unidentified vessels were seen steering south and hugging the Italian coast. Blomfield ordered the four boats to crash start, sent a sighting report, and turned at high speed onto a south-easterly course with the four boats forming line abreast to starboard.

The vessels were soon identified as six E-boats travelling at 20 knots...Blomfield gave chase. The four MTBs became strung out as they headed north-westwards after the E-boats, and within a very short while Blomfield in 77 was well ahead of the other three. At 2300 MTB 77 fired both torpedoes, set at 3 feet and 5 feet, the point of aim being 600 yards ahead of the leading E-boat. Blomfield then increased speed, and two minutes after firing the torpedoes he opened up on the rear E-boat with gunfire.

Immediately all six E-boats opened fire on 77, and two shore batteries on the Sicilian coast joined in. At this moment the leading E-boat blew up, having probably been hit by 77’s torpedoes. For the next fifteen minutes the four MTBs, going full out, chased the E-boats. 77, 82 and 62 were firing at the fourth in the line when it suddenly burst into flames. The second in the line then hauled out and stopped. By this time the four shore batteries on the Sicilian coast and two on the Italian had joined in and were shooting accurately. At this point the Straits are less than four miles wide, and 77 was repeatedly hit by shell splinters and fire from small calibre guns. Blomfield therefore decided to disengage south under cover of smoke.

The shore batteries, however, kept up their fire. From 2320, when they disengaged from the E-boats, until 0215 the next day they were accurately shelled. A near miss on 82 severely wounded Rees, her C.O., and killed a rating. Blomfield ordered her to return to Augusta, which was now operating as a base.

At 0500 he headed his unit back to Augusta, but fifteen minutes later five E-boats were sighted to the eastward... being engaged by units of the 32nd Flotilla (MTBs 634, 670, 640 and 651). Blomfield altered a course to close and increased to full speed, and within 30 minutes his boats were opening fire on the E-boats at 1,000 yards, closing to 500 yards. One large type E-boat was seen to be in trouble, and Blomfield in 77 closed for the “kill”. His Breda gun chose that moment to jam, and as the 0.5-inch turret had not had time to reload he disengaged to port.

All three boats had been damaged. Blomfield’s boat, 77, and 82 had both been hit below the waterline, and 77 was leaking badly. The only auxiliary engine available had been hit and was out of action, so the crew had to bail by hand until she got back to Augusta.’

In addition to Hammett’s D.S.M., MTB 77 was honoured with a D.S.C. for the skipper, Lieut. Lassen, and a Mention for another rating. Lassen went on to win a Bar to his D.S.C. and a Mention, both for actions in MTB 404. Blomfield was awarded a Bar to the D.S.C. he had won in Norway in 1940 and went on to win a second Bar and a Mention in MTB 420.