Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War Norway 1940 operations D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Acting Leading Seaman A. F. J. Simcox, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (J. 107397 A. F. J. Simcox, A./L. Smn., H.M.S. Auckland); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (J. 107397 A. F. J. Simcox, A./L.S., H.M.S. Excellent), this last with minor scratch to edge, minor contact marks, generally good very fine (7)
£700-900

D.S.M. London Gazette 25 June 1940:

‘For courage and resource in operations on the Norwegian coast.’

Albert Frederick Jack Simcox was decorated for his gallantry aboard H.M.S. Auckland during the ill-fated Norwegian operations of 1940.

Under Commander J. G. Hewitt, D.S.O., R.N., Auckland sailed with three other sloops and 700 troops for Aandalsnes on 16-17 April, and endured constant attack from enemy aircraft for much of her ensuing time in support of the operations ashore. She also played an important part in evacuating the much battered remnants of “Sickle” Task Force in early May, on one occasion, on the 3rd, embarking 240 troops in just seven minutes. Simcox was awarded the D.S.M.

Whether he remained aboard the Auckland following the Norwegian campaign remains unknown, but if so he would have seen further action with the Red Sea Force, when Auckland assisted at the evacuation of civilians and troops from British Somaliland, transferring them from Tug Argan and Berbera to Aden; she was also involved in the shelling of Italian troops who were advancing west of Berbera.

By April 1941 Auckland was serving in the Mediterranean, and consequently found herself actively engaged off Greece and Crete, in addition to undertaking supply missions between Alexandria and Tobruk.

And it was in this latter capacity that she fell victim to enemy aircraft off Bardia on 24 June 1941, when three formations of Stukas attacked her and the Australian sloop H.M.A.S. Parramatta. An early hit blew the Auckland’s stern above water to pieces, and, with her wheel jammed, she took a wild list and turned 180 degrees to port. The same bomb had knocked out her after guns, too, although witnesses were much impressed by the fact her forward gunners never ceased firing. Then three more direct hits took their toll - everyone on the bridge being killed - and as her crew prepared to abandon the stricken sloop there was a shattering explosion that lifted the ship five feet out of the water. Her back broken, she went down, but amazingly 160 of her company survived to be picked up - though not before having endured further attack in the water.