Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An important Second World War Far East operations C.G.M. group of five awarded to Stoker Petty Officer J. “Spud” Yates, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallantry in the H.M.S. Saumarez in the last great destroyer action of the war - namely the sinking of the Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro in the Malacca Straits in May 1945 - ‘a jewel of an action which was widely taught and demonstrated in Tactical Schools and Staff Colleges for years to come after the war’: the sole survivor of his boiler room - which took a direct hit - Yates continued to carry out vital tasks even though suffering from severe burns and pain

Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, G.VI.R. (Sto. P.O. J. Yates, P/KX. 95334); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf, minor contact wear, generally good very fine (5)
£12000-15000

C.G.M. London Gazette 16 September 1945:

‘For great gallantry and outstanding devotion to duty. No. 1 Boiler Room of H.M.S. Saumarez was hit by an enemy shell. Stoker P.O. Yates, the sole survivor from the boiler room though badly burnt and in great pain at once shut the steam off from the oil fuel pump and heaters, and would not allow himself to be treated for his hurts until he had reported the damage. This most gallant action did much to limit the damage to his ship.’

Jack “Spud” Yates, a native of Oldham, Lancashire, first won Their Lordships’ approbation for gallant deeds as a Leading Stoker in H.M.S. Halcyon on the Arctic run in 1942, for which he gained a mention in despatches (London Gazette 1 January 1943, refers). That period of active employment included P.Q. 17, when Halcyon made for the shelter of Novaya Zemiya prior to carrying out rescue operations.

At which point Yates removed to the destroyer Saumarez remains unknown, but given the fact the Halcyon underwent a major refit at the end of 1942, and that Saumarez was completed in the summer of 1943, the latter date seems a likely point for his transferral. If so, he would have seen further action on the Arctic run and off Normandy, including the sinking of the Scharnhorst in December 1943, when the Saumarez suffered a number of casualties. As stated by Yates, it was this earlier ‘David and Goliath’ encounter that put Saumarez’s crew in good stead come her epic encounter with the heavy Japanese cruiser Haguro in the Malacca Straits in May 1945:

‘I won't say the ship was agog with excitement because by this time most of the crew were hardened war veterans. The majority having been aboard during the Scharnhorst incident.’

Operation “Dukedom”

The Saumarez was ordered to the Far East in January 1945, where she became flotilla leader of the 26th Destroyer Flotilla under Captain (D) Manley Power, C.B.E., D.S.O., R.N. Her consorts comprised the Venus, Verulam, Vigilant and Virago. Here, then, the force that dealt a fatal blow to the mighty Haguro on the night of 15-16 May 1945, a blow occasioned by Operation “Dukedom”, which was mounted on the 10th after reports were received of a Japanese force departing Singapore.

The M.O.D’s War With Japan takes up the story as Power’s flotilla closed the enemy in the early hours of the 16th:

‘The destroyers were closing in to attack when at 0054 the larger echo reversed course abruptly, followed shortly afterwards by the smaller. This led the enemy straight towards the Venus which was cruising at maximum speed to reach her attack position. The Venus, taken at a disadvantage by the enemy's manoeuvre, failed to fire torpedoes, the torpedo firing officer being unable to see the target which passed on an opposite course less than a mile distant. The Haguro turned back to the south-westward to comb the tracks of the torpedoes which she supposed the Venus had fired and in so doing headed almost directly towards the Saumarez. Captain D.26 had already signalled that he was unable to attack at the time given. He now found himself in a favourable position, except that the torpedo tubes were trained to starboard and angled left, and he had first to deal with the Kamikaze which was close to starboard.

Captain Power had to alter course violently to starboard to pass close under the destroyer's stern, at the same time engaging her with main and close range armament, first in radar and then in visual fire, at point blank range, as she crossed from starboard to port and close down the port side. Meanwhile, the cruiser, though hampered by supplies stacked on deck, had simultaneously opened fire on Saumarez with her 8-inch and 5-inch batteries illuminating very effectively with star-shell. At 0108 Saumarez shifted target to the cruiser, engaging her with main and close range armament. At 0111 the Saumarez was hit by a 5-inch shell in the boiler room, and almost simultaneously by a 8-inch shell on the port side of the forecastle and a hit on top of the funnel. Speed at once fell off and the wheel was put over to bring the sights to bear before the ship stopped, a full outfit of 8-inch torpedoes being fired at 0113 at a range of 2,000 yards from broad on the beam of the cruiser. Meanwhile all communication between bridge, steering and engine room in Saumarez was temporarily severed. About a minute or two later the Verulam on the port bow of the Haguro made an unmolested attack. The situation was now somewhat confused. The Saumarez withdrew to the north-west to examine damage, further than Captain Power had intended, because the telegraphs had been inadvertently left at 'full', and communications inside the ship took a few minutes to restore. Captain Power still attempted to continue to exercise control of operations. The Haguro altered course drastically but at each manoeuvre found herself confronted with a destroyer. These continued their attacks, a high measure of synchronisation in firing torpedoes being obtained by two pairs of destroyers: Saumarez 0113 - Verulam 0114-0115; Venus 0125 - Virago 0127. At 0209 the Haguro, overwhelmed, sank in position 5°0' N., 90°30' E. about 45 miles south-west of Penang. The Kamikaze received only slight damage from shellfire. She ran for Penang, but later returned to rescue the survivors of the Haguro. As enemy airfields were within easy range Captain Power, whose ship was found not to be badly hit, quitted the scene and concentrated with the fleet north of Sumatra. His ships had steamed 330 miles at 27 knots since they were detached by Admiral Walker on the previous day. ‘The sinking of the Haguro,’ wrote Admiral Mountbatten, himself a former destroyer captain, in his report to the Chiefs of Staff, ‘is an outstanding example of a night attack by destroyers.’ ’

For his own part, Yates later recalled how fortunate he was to have doned anti-flash gear - Chief Stoker Cadwallader had threatened him and his team in No. 1 Boiler Room with ‘castration’ if they failed to do so. His team comprised Daniel Hendren, “Pincher” Marten and “Ginger” Elliott. When, as Yates put it, ‘the fireworks started’, he was sending in boiler room readings to the engine room and keeping an eye on the steam pressure gauge. Of events after one of Haguro’s 5-inch shells tore through the boiler room at 0111 hours, Yates wrote:

‘Immediately steam began to fill the boiler room and was leaving the boiler at roughly 500 degrees Fahrenheit ... Leading Stoker Marten was my water tender and as such he would be nearest the point of impact. He was stationed on the gratings above me in front of the boiler. Leading Stoker Elliot was on the diesel dynamo which was situated on the port side of the boiler room, and the poor devil received full impact of the escaping steam. I should imagine he died instantly.’

Yates instantly opened the throttle to the fans supplying forced draught air to the boiler room thereby keeping the steam away, and shouted a warning. Marten made for the emergency hatch, but Hendren was already on his knees and choking. In spite of the danger, Yates averted the risk of fire by shutting down the steam supply to the oil fuel pump and heaters before escaping himself. It was to remain Yates's regret that it was impossible for him to carry either 'Elliot or Hendren out of the boiler room as they were both pretty hefty lads and the ladders leading upwards to the deck were far too steep.’

Himself suffering from burns and in considerable pain, Yates then reported to his senior before allowing the ship’s doctor to tend to his injuries. He was admitted to hospital when the Saumarez reached Trincomalee, where Marten succumbed to his wounds. On eventually rejoining the Saumarez at Durban, he was informed of his award of the C.G.M.

Sold with the recipient’s original M.I.D. certificate, in the name of ‘Leading Stoker Jack Yates’ and dated 1 January 1945, together with Admiralty letter informing him of the award of his C.G.M., dated 28 September 1945, and his hand written account of events aboard H.M.S. Saumarez on 15-16 May 1945.