Orders, Decorations and Medals

A D.S.M. group of seven to Leading Seaman D.H. McKay, H.M.S. Maori, for a brilliant night action in which two Italian cruisers and an E-boat were destroyed

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, G.VI.R. (SSX.22665, A/L. ,Smn) small official correction to number; 1939-45 STAR; ATLANTIC STAR; AFRICA STAR; ITALY STAR; DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS, very fine or better (7)

D.S.M., London Gazette, 26th May 1942, 'For coolness, skill and enterprise while serving in H.M. Ships Maori, Sikh and Legion, in a brilliant night action in the Central Mediterranean in which, without hurt or loss to the Royal Navy, two Italian cruisers and an E-boat were destroyed, and a torpedo boat badly damaged.'

The following details are taken from 'The Battle for the Mediterranean' by D. Maclntyre:

‘Meanwhile, at Palermo, cased petrol in large quantities had been loaded on board the two light cruisers Da Barbiano and Di Giussano, which sailed on the evening of December 13th, in company with the torpedo-boat Cigno, for a high-speed dash across the Sicilian Straits to Cape Bon and thence along the coastal route to Tripoli. There departure did not escape the watchful eye of British reconnaissance planes. Coming eastwards from Gibraltar at high speed was a force of four destroyers under Commander G.H. Stokes of the Sikh, with the Maori, Legion and H.M. Netherlands Ship Issac Sweers. Vice-Admiral Toscano commanding the squadron had been warned of the approach of the British destroyers; he was more than an hour late in his arrival off Cape Bon. Thus Stokes as he came pounding up from the westward, sighted flashing lights and then the outline of two ships which disappeared behind the steep bulk of the headland. It seemed as though he was just too late. But luck was running on the British side that night. Toscano had just rounded Cape Bon when he heard the sound of aircraft in formation which he guessed to be torpedo planesTo foil them he reversed his course, so that as the SikA drew clear of the headland Stokes saw his enemy steering towards him and approaching rapidly. He at once led away to get betwen the Italians and the shore so that he would remain unseen against the black backdrop of the headland. The Italians were thus taken completely by surprise, when at 223am the destroyers' guns flashed out and torpedoes splashed as they were sent on the short run to the target. A few wildly aimed salvos from the Italians dropped their shells on the shore beyond their target, but their gunfire soon ceased as three torpedoes hit the Da Barkiano, sending her quickly to the bottom, and another hit the Di Giussano whose cargo of petrol blazed up. All was over in a few minutes and the destroyers resumed their passage to Malta, leaving the Di Giussano to sink an hour later while the Cigno picked up survivors.’

A detailed account of this action was published in The Illustrated London News, a copy of which accompanies the group.