Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare Second World War Normandy operations D.S.M. awarded to Able Seaman D. E. Halladay, Royal Navy, who was decorated for the recovery and destruction of an enemy torpedo in “Juno” anchorage: a crew member of Landing Craft Gun (Large) No. 1, he almost certainly went on to witness further action in the assault on Walcheren in November 1944, on which occasion No. 1 was sunk

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (A.B. D. E. Halladay, C/JX. 353658), extremely fine £1600-1800

D.S.M. London Gazette 13 March 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘For the recovery of a circling torpedo from the centre of Juno anchorage adjacent to “Cap Tourane”, and for towing it away and destroying it by gunfire.’

Donald Edward Halladay, a native of Northampton, was serving in L.C.G. (L.) No. 1 at the time of the above related deeds, the recommendation for his award being dated 5 August 1944. Landing Craft Guns (Large) were armed with two 4.7-inch guns, manned by Royal Marines, and several 20mm. Oerlikons, a formidable “punch” for such a small craft, though their high velocity guns were limited in coping with targets in dead ground as a result of their relatively low trajectory.

Fortunately for posterity’s sake, one of Halladay’s shipmates, Richard Blyth, wrote an account of No. 1’s part in the Normandy operations, an account that also makes direct reference to the recovery and destruction of the enemy torpedo referred to in the above recommendation (see the B.B.C’s World War 2 People’s War website for full details):

‘When we got to Sword Beach [on D-Day], it seemed as though every gun ever made was firing at the same time. You could hear the 15-inch warship shells going overhead, which sounded like a steam train. I could hear the Belfast’s 6-inch guns fired in anger and L.C.G. (L.) 1 was firing at the gun emplacements that were attacking our forces going ashore. Having a flat bottom and shallow draught, we were able to get quite close ashore, so we could see more where the firing was coming from. Our skipper was quite a huntsman, as every time we went into action he blew his hunting horn and said “Tally Ho!”

We were firing for nearly four days continuously, until the beachhead was well established. We would re-arm our craft then go along the beach where we were needed and then started firing again, sometimes 5 or 6 miles inland. We had a Field Officer ashore who was watching the shortfall and who sent back corrections to the gun crews.

As we progressed we came to Le Havre, where the Germans were hauled up of a night time, and we had what was called the “Trout Line” which was a line of L.C.G’s and L.C.F’s in line from Le Havre to Arromanches. At night, “Jerry” came out to cause havoc on one-man torpedoes; they also had high explosive remote controlled motor boats, with which they tried to get us. They moved at about 35 knots.

One day we had been doing an indirect shoot for the Army, and as we arrived back at the harbour of Arromanches, our look-out saw a spent German torpedo floating in the harbour - towards the end the Germans adapted the torpedoes to float instead of sink, so that it acted like a mine. A Marine Officer and two sailors [Halladay and another] got in a small boat and went out to it. One of the sailors went over the side with a rope, dived down and secured it, and swam back to the small boat and then back to our craft and towed it out of the harbour for about a mile, then blew it up with gun fire. The sailors were recommended for the Distinguished Service Medal (D.S.M.). When we got back in the harbour all the ships and craft saluted us with sirens and klaxons blaring.

We went out on D-Day and came back in September, having done 4 hours on, 4 hours off, 24/7. At that time we had a refit and more exercises, then the Support Squadron Eastern Flank (S.S.E.F.) was formed and we went out to Walcheren, Holland.’

Richard Blyth later submitted an account of No. 1’s part in this operation on 1 November 1944, a disastrous action in terms of losses for the S.S.E.F., nine craft being sunk and nine others seriously damaged, with a total loss of 172 killed and 200 wounded. But the Walcheren landings will also be remembered for the great gallantry of the landing craft crew, subsequent Honours & Awards including a D.S.O., 23 D.S.Cs, 2 C.G.Ms and 27 D.S.Ms. Of No. 1’s fate, Blyth states:

‘In the Northern Group, L.C.G. (L.) No. 1 went in with her guns blazing independently and closed to 600 yards in spite of being hit three times by shells. Now she got hit several more times and then came the big one, which hit the bridge - there was a tremendous explosion. Our skipper, Lieutenant Ballard, R.N.R., was wounded. The shell took the compass from his hand before it exploded, then another shell blasted away the compass pedestal and voice-pipe. All the officers were now wounded and the craft came to a stop with two dead and 20 wounded. The survivors were rescued by L.C.S. 510. L.C.G. (L.) No. 17 tried to take No. 1 in tow, but the stricken craft sank. The skipper of No. 17, Lieutenant Scammell, received wounds coming to No. 1’s assistance, wounds from which he died.’

Halladay received his D.S.M. at a Buckingham Palace investiture held on 6 November 1945.