Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare and well-documented Second World War Battle of the River Plate D.S.M. group of five awarded to Acting Petty Officer R. McClarnan, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallant work in H.M.S. Ajax’s magazine

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (R. McClarnan, A.B., 1939), officially engraved naming; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, extremely fine (5) £4000-5000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards for the 1939-45 War.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 23 February 1940:

‘In recognition of the gallant and successful action with the Admiral Graf Spee.’

The following statement appears under the above heading in respect of awards of the Distinguished Service Medal:

‘Able Seaman Robert McClarnan, H.M.S. Ajax, who, being in charge of the Magazine, set a fine example of cheerful, hard and skilful work.’

Robert McClarnan was born in Preston, Lancashire in September 1916 and entered the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman in July 1935. Joining H.M.S. Ajax as an Able Seaman in January 1938, he remained similarly employed until June 1942, in which period he was present at the Battle of the River Plate and awarded his D.S.M.

In that famous encounter with the German pocket battleship Graf Spee on 13 December, the Ajax played a crucial role in drawing enemy fire from the Exeter. Indeed as Graf Spee turned to finish off Harwood’s heavily damaged flagship, it was Ajax and her consort Achilles who raced to the rescue, the former taking casualties as she was straddled and hit by the enemy’s 11-inch guns, her after turrets and radar communication being put out of action. But Ajax had replied in kind, her rapid and accurate fire starting a blaze amidships in the Graf Spee.

Invested with his D.S.M. by King George VI at a special parade held on Horse Guards in February 1940, McClarnan also attended the subsequent Guildhall “victory luncheon” held in honour of the heroes of the River Plate. Moreover, as evidenced by an accompanying newspaper cutting, he received a triumphant welcome at his home town of Walton-Le-Dale on 28 February, being carried shoulder high and presented with a silver cigarette case. On being asked whether he would like another opportunity to meet a German warship at sea, McClarnan replied, “You bet I would. Just aching for it. It would hardly be as big a ordeal as replying to tonight’s speeches of welcome.”

As stated, he remained employed in the Ajax until the summer of 1942, when he came ashore to an appointment at Pembroke, a period that witnessed his ship winning further Battle Honours for Matapan 1941, Greece 1941, Crete 1941 and Malta Convoys 1941. Then from August 1943 until early 1945, he served aboard the destroyer Vigilant, seeing further action on the Arctic run and off Normandy, and gaining advancement to Acting Petty Officer. His final wartime appointment was at Royal Arthur, the Petty Officers’ School at Corsham in Wiltshire, and he was released from the Service in January 1946.

Sold with a large quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s recruitment papers, Certificate of Service, Gunnery History Sheet and Order for Release from Naval Service, dated 4 January 1946; official correspondence relating to his D.S.M. gratuity and Admiralty campaign medal forwarding slip; Corporation of London, Guildhall “victory luncheon” programme and menu; three H.M.S. Ajax Christmas cards and H.M.S. Ajax silk cap tally; assorted wartime photographs and postcards (approximately 20); various newspaper cuttings, including a lengthy welcome home feature from the Lancashire Daily Post, dated 29 February 1940; a letter-opener made ‘from the teak of H.M.S. Ajax, Battle of the River Plate’ and a presentation silver cigarette case, with gilt interior and engraved inscription, ‘Presented to Robert McClarnan, D.S.M., H.M.S. Ajax, As a Token of Appreciation by the Parishioners of Our Lady and St. Patrick, Walton-Le-Dale, 29-2-40’.