Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Second World War anti-U-boat operations D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Chief Petty Officer R. Goldsmith, Royal Navy, whose command of a 4-inch gun in H.M.S. Porchester Castle against a surfaced U-Boat contributed to the latter’s destruction in September 1944 – conclusive evidence being found in ‘a glove and fresh human remains’: his ship was later used to portray the Saltash Castle in the famous film, “The Cruel Sea”

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (P.O. R. Goldsmith, C/JX. 136270); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (JX. 136270 R. Goldsmith, A./L.S., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-34; Coronation 1953; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue (JX. 136270 R. Goldsmith, D.S.M., C.P.O., H.M.S. Woodbridge Haven), minor official correction to ship’s name on the last, contact marks, generally very fine and better (7) £1600-1800

D.S.M. London Gazette 15 May 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘For outstanding devotion to duty, ability and determination as captain of the 4-inch gun. He gave great encouragement to the guns’ crew enabling them to maintain an accurate and rapid fire on the U-Boat which surfaced 200 yards on the starboard bow. This Petty Officer always sets an excellent example to his men and is a very definite asset to the ship.’

Robert Goldsmith, a native of Gillingham, Kent, was serving in the corvette H.M.S. Porchester Castle at the time of the above related action fought on 9 September 1944, while she was serving in a convoy support group north-west of Ireland. In the company of the frigate Helmsdale, she detected, pursued and destroyed the U-484, after the latter had been forced to the surface. And it is clear Goldsmith’s part in the action was crucial, the Commodore, Western Approaches, supporting the recommendation for his D.S.M. in the following terms:

‘Although the stem of the U-Boat surfaced for only a very short time, 4-inch gunfire was opened with exemplary speed and effectiveness. The readiness of this team reflects very well on this Petty Officer’s drive and determination.’

Recent research has established that Porchester Castle’s victim was the U-484 and not the U-743 as earlier believed. That she achieved a convincing victory is beyond dispute – ‘a glove and fresh human remains’ being found at the scene of the U-Boats demise. And before the year was out, Porchester Castle had shared in the destruction of another U-Boat on 11 November 1944, on this occasion the U-1200, south of Ireland; sold with a file of research.