A Second War ‘Battle of Cape Bon’ D.S.M. group of ten awarded to Petty Officer E. P. Moseling, Royal Navy, later Admiralty Constabulary, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War off Tobruk in September 1942

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (J.101594 E. P. Moseling. P.O.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (J.101594 E. P. Moseling. P.O. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Burma Star, 1 clasp, Pacific; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (101594 E. P. Moseling. P.O. H.M.S. Sussex.); Police L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (Const. Ernest P. Moseling) good very fine (10) £1,000-£1,400

D.S.M. London Gazette 26 May 1942:
‘For coolness, skill and enterprise while serving in H.M. Ships Maori, Sikh, and Legion, in a brilliant night action in the Central Mediterranean in which, without hurt or loss to the Royal Navy, two Italian Cruisers ands an E-boat were destroyed, and a Torpedo Boat badly damaged.’

The original Recommendation, dated 13 December 1941, states: ‘Director Layer. For coolness, efficiency, ands accuracy on this and other occasions. He has set an example of cheerfulness and devotion to duty at all times.’

Ernest Percy Moseling was born in Dover on 21 August 1905 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 1 March 1921. Advanced Petty Officer, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 25 July 1938, and served during the Second World War initially in H.M.S. Sussex, before transferring to H.M.S. Sikh on 2 June 1940.

Moseling was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his gallantry during the Battle of Cape Bon on the night of 12-13 December 1941, when the Italian cruisers Alberico da Barbarino and Alberto di Guissano, being used as petrol carriers to Bengazi, were spotted by British air reconnaissance and turned back after passing Cape Bon, off the Libyan coast. On their return they were intercepted and sunk by H.M.S. Sikh, H.M.S. Legion, and H.M.S. Maori.

In September 1942 H.M.S. Sikh was tasked with supporting the assault landings at Tobruk (Operation Agreement). During the attempts to land the Royal Marines Sikh came under fire from the shore batteries, and sustained major damage. Taken in tow, she sank off the North African coast on 14 September. Taken Prisoner of War, Moseling was held by the Italians, before being repatriated on 31 March 1943, in a 3 way prisoner exchange (Hansard refers). Subsequently posted to H.M.S. Pembroke on 1 April 1943, he was promoted Chief Petty Officer on 27 May 1943, and saw further active service in H.M.S. Troubridge from 10 December 1944 to 12 August 1945. He was shore pensioned on 30 January 1946.

Post-War, Moseling served with the Admiralty Constabulary as a Naval Base Fireman. He died in Rochester, Kent, on 2 December 1984.

Sold with the recipient’s uniform ribands and a large quantity of copied research, including a photographic images of the recipient, one whilst a Prisoner of War.