A Second World War D.S.M. group of six awarded to Petty Officer J. G. J. Piper, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (P.O. P/JX.129604); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-39 (A.B. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Burma Star; War Medal, mounted as worn, very fine or better (6) £700-800

D.S.M. London Gazette 14 November 1944: ‘For courage and determination in H.M. Ships... Ursa... in a series of successful attacks on enemy escorted convoys off the coast of France.’

Sold with an original Admiralty letter, dated 10 November 1944, advising of the award ‘for courage, skill and devotion to duty shown in H.M.S. Ursa in successful attacks carried out in August 1944 on enemy escorted convoys off the coast of France.’

On 14 August 1944, H.M.S. Mauritius, H.M.C.S. Iroquois and H.M.S. Ursa attacked a German convoy consisting of the Torpedo Boat T24, the Aircraft Repair Ship Richthofen and the M385, between Sables d’Olonne and La Pallice, driving several of the escort vessels ashore and sinking the M385. On 22-23 August, the same ships attacked and sank the German Patrol Vessels V70, V717, V720, V729 and V730, off Audierne.