Orders, Decorations and Medals

An outstanding Second World War Dieppe raid B.E.M. group of five awarded to Acting Corporal M. Nunn, Royal Air Force, the last man left standing on his Air Sea Rescue (A.S.R.) High Speed Launch (H.S.L.) after it was attacked by enemy aircraft: rescued by another H.S.L., this too had to be abandoned as a result of 30 minutes at the mercy of half a dozen F.W. 190s, until, at length, a few survivors were plucked to safety by a third launch from No. 27 A.S.R. Dover

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (755120 A.C. 1 M. Nunn, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals, good very fine (5) £2000-2500

B.E.M. London Gazette 29 December 1942. The original recommendation states:

‘On 19 August 1942, A.C.1 Nunn was Wireless Operator in R.A.F. High Speed Launch (H.S.L.) 122. During operations the launch was severely attacked by enemy aircraft. He stuck to his post until the W./T. was shot away and, going on deck, found he was the only member of crew uninjured, the other members being either killed or wounded. He showed great presence of mind by first endevouring to stop engines until he was almost overcome by fumes. He then ran to the wheel and continued to steer the launch for the British coast until sometime later he was taken off by H.S.L. 123. Shortly afterwards H.S.Ls 122 and 123 were sunk by the enemy. A.C. 1 Nunn has been with H.S.L’s Dover since December 1941 and has carried out numerous operations with skill and efficiency.’

Michael Nunn was born in South Hadley, Barnsley in August 1920 and enlisted in the Royal Air Force at Cambridge in June 1939. After initial training, he was posted to No. 27 Air Sea Rescue (A.S.R.) at Dover in December 1941, and it was in this capacity that he won his B.E.M. off Dieppe in August 1942.

Of the 14 High Speed launches called out on 19 August 1942, in response to no less than 47 “Mayday” calls, three were lost to enemy action, among them, as related above, Nunn’s H.S.L. 122 - five of her crew were killed, including Flying Officer J. R. Hill, four wounded and two taken P.O.W. Her fate - and that of H.S.L. 123 - is best summarised in an official report submitted by Squadron Leader Coates, from which the following extract has been taken:

‘At about 16.35, four miles S.E. of the position, going north, 123 was attacked by two out of four F.W. 190s that appeared ahead. L.A.C. Wilkins was wounded and Sergeant Smith slightly wounded. A “Help” signal was sent. The planes did not return and course was maintained. Shortly afterwards the boat was challenged from the shore and the batteries opened fire, the shells falling astern. At 16.50 four F.W. 190s attacked from the port beam and course was altered towards them and no casualties resulted. A second “Help” signal was sent. Course was altered to N.W. to try and shake off the planes, which again disappeared, and to contact 122 [with Nunn aboard] for mutual aid and support ... 122, when sighted, was being bombed by a Heinkel and when closed at 17.15 was found to have been badly damaged by cannon and machine-gun fire, and with only five men left alive. These were being transferred when six or eight F.W. 190s appeared and attacked from the port beam, four serious casualties being sustained. A signal “Urgent Help 182 Dungeness 23” was sent. The boats then became separated. In view of the fact that not a single British fighter had provided cover or was even sighted from the time the English coast was left, and that we had been informed that none could be expected, it was considered that absolutely no possibility remained of making the 25 miles to our coast against the concerted attacks in operation. The boat [122] was therefore abandoned at 17.20. Whilst the survivors were in the water both boats were attacked for about half an hour and set completely on fire H.S.L. 177, five to six miles distant, apparently saw smoke and having contacted R.M.L. 513 and two Spitfires, proceeded and performed a plucky and skilful rescue at about 18.00, the F.W. 190s making off on their approach ... ’

Assuming Nunn had been a regular member of H.S.L. 122 since his arrival at No. 27 A.S.R. Dover, he would have been the veteran of numerous rescue operations in the interim, the unit’s O.R.B. revealing another encounter with enemy aircraft on 16 April 1942, when 122 was attacked by a pair of 109s off Folkestone - ‘No casualties but bullet hole damage to hull’ (the unit’s O.R.B. refers, full photocopied extracts from which are included, together with a good deal more information on the Dieppe raid).

Having received his B.E.M. at a Buckingham Palace investiture held on 16 March 1943, and been advanced to Acting Corporal, Nunn transferred to No. 4 A.S.R. at Wick that September, where he served until being released in October 1945; sold with a copied wedding photograph and images of H.S.L. 122.