Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second World War D.S.M. group of four awarded to Donkeyman M. Reilly, Merchant Navy, who was decorated for his gallant deeds when the Empire Defender was sunk by Italian torpedo bombers in November 1941, having undertaken a solo, unescorted run for Malta - otherwise known as “Operation Astrologer”

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (Donkeyman Michael Reilly); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted as worn, extremely fine (4) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to Merchant Seamen and D.E.M.S. Gunners.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 24 February 1942:

‘For bravery, resolution and devotion to duty.’

Michael Reilly, who was born in Glasgow in July 1901, joined the Empire Defender in October 1941, having earlier served in the Thirlby.

In early 1941, the Admiralty opted for a plan to pass unescorted, solo merchantmen from Gibraltar to Malta. The first attempt to make the run - code named “Operation Temple - was undertaken by the S.S. Parracombe, laden with 21 cased Hurricane fighters, but she was mined with the loss of 23 men on 2 May.

Two or three similar operations having taken place in the interim, Empire Defender was next up in November, together with the Empire Pelican. Passing westward through the Strait - independently - on the 12th and 14th, both ships fell victim to Italian torpedo aircraft south of off Galita Island within 48 hours, thus ending any further attempts from the westward for a full year. In Empire Defender’s case, the torpedo caused a tremendous explosion ‘ which seemed to life the ship out of the water’, and she plunged straight down by the stern just 15 minutes later. Her survivors reached Tabarca, Tunisia, early the following morning, where they were interned by the Vichy French in a barracks, and then handed over to the Italians - thus ensued various camp moves, at one of which the merchant seamen rioted owing to the appalling conditions, the ringleaders being sent to a station in the desert.

With the arrival of American forces, Reilly and his shipmates were finally repatriated in July 1942, and he received his D.S.M. at Buckingham Palace in February 1943, one of 19 men from the Parracombe, Empire Defender and Empire Pelican to be decorated or commended.

He saw out the War with appointments in the Christine Marie and John L.Manson and was still serving in the Merchant Navy at the time of his death in January 1961; sold with a file of research.