Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second World War Submariner’s D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Leading Stoker Sidney Richardson, H.M. Submarine P.35, for the sinking of the Italian heavy cruiser Trento in June 1942

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (KX.83298 S. Richardson, L.Sto. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Burma Star, clasp, Pacific; Italy Star; War Medal, mounted as worn, edge bruise to the first, otherwise very fine and better (7) £500-700

D.S.M. London Gazette 22 December 1942: ‘For gallant and distinguished services in successful patrols.’

H.M. Submarine P.35 (later renamed Umbra) was one of four submarines of the Tenth Flotilla detailed for Operation Vigorous, and protection of the Malta bound convoy in June 1942. In these four simultaneous patrols which lasted three weeks, with assistance to Operation Vigorous as their object, P.31 and Una drew blank and had no opportunity of any sort. P.35 (Lieutenant S. L. C. Maydon in command) had a most exciting and successful forenoon on 15th June with one hit on a battleship and the sinking of the stationary Trento to his credit, and P.34 bagged a German U-boat on the way home. The following extracts are taken from Lieutenant Maydon’s Patrol Report:

‘15th June 0555 - Started attack on two littorio class Battleships and two Cruisers in line ahead, estimated course 175° speed 26 knots.

0611 Aircraft started bombing attack. The confusion that ensued is very difficult to describe: P.35 was in the unenviable position of being in the centre of a fantastic circus of wildly careering capital ships, cruisers and destroyers, of bomb splashes, none of which, fortunately, came close, of tracer shell streaks and anti-aircraft bursts. At one period there was not a quadrant of the compass unoccupied by enemy vessels weaving continuously to and fro. It was only possible to count the big ships; destroyers seemed to be everywhere. It was essential to remain at periscope depth for an opportunity to fire might come at any moment; one was in fact tempted to stand with periscope up and gape in utter amazement.

0646 Fired four torpedoes in a dispersed salvo at 10 second intervals at rearmost battleship, range estimated by eye 5000-6000 yards. After firing P.35 went deep and altered course boldly to starboard increasing speed to get clear of her torpedo tracks. 4 min 10 secs after firing there was a loud explosion characteristic of a torpedo explosion and followed by lesser intense detonations 5 mins 00 secs and 5 mins 55 secs after firing. There were two further loud explosions similar to the first and a loud but more muffled explosion after 6 mins 08 secs.

0654 Two further loud explosions.

0719 P.35 returned to periscope depth to find the battleships disappearing to the South in a haze of smoke and the burning cruiser with a destroyer either side escorting her to the Westward and from time to time circling her to lay smoke. P.35 altered course in pursuit and commenced reloading. Range of cruiser was then 5500 yards.

0816 The two destroyers evidently became suspicious and P.35 was kept deep and forced to the Northward but no depth charges were dropped although the enemy passed close on several occasions. This delayed reloading.

0915 Returned to periscope depth to find the cruiser on fire and stopped, range 5400 yards, with two destroyers of navigatori and avieri Classes laying a very ineffective white smoke screen from their funnels and sprays over their sterns around her. The cruiser was flush-decked of the trento Class; the seaplane on her foc’stle was clearly visible. At first she was on fire around the mainmast and after funnel which had been making much smoke; now the fire aft was under control but she was belching white smoke and sometimes flames from the foremost funnel. Course was altered while completing the reload and a slow approach was made.

1006 Fired two torpedoes at 3 second interval on course 167°, track angle 90°. After 2 mins 45 secs both torpedoes hit almost simultaneously. P.35 took evading action going to 180 feet and making away slowly. Seven depth charges were dropped fairly close but no damage was done and the counter-attack ended at 1040.’

Lieutenant Maydon was awarded the D.S.O. for this action. Lieutenant J. S. Launders won the D.S.C., and six members of the crew, including Leading Stoker Sidney Richardson, won the Distinguished Service Medal. Maydon went on to win a Bar to the D.S.O. for further successful patrols in Umbra, and later a D.S.C. in the Far East when he was commanding H.M.S/M. Tradewind. Sold with copies of the report for Operation Vigorous, and Maydon’s Patrol Report for P.35.