Orders, Decorations and Medals Including five Special Collections

A fine Second War ‘Malta Convoys’ D.S.M. group of eight awarded to Chief Stoker W. Senior, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (K.60780 W. Senior, Ch. Sto.) impressed naming; British War Medal (SS.117833 Sto. 2 R.N.) small correction to Official number; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1920 (Sto. Cl. H.M.S. Clio); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; War Medal; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., Coinage head, with additional Long Service bar (Ch. Sto. H.M.S. Frobisher) the earlier medals with contact marks, nearly very fine, otherwise good very fine and a scarce long service group (8) £1200-1500

D.S.M. London Gazette 8 September 1942 “For gallantry, skill and seamanship in H.M. Ships, Avonvale, Beaufort, Breconshire, Carlisle, Cleopatra, Dido, Dulverton, Eridge, Euryalus, Havock, Hero, Hurworth, Jervis, Kelvin, Kingston, Kipling, Legion, Lively, Penelope, Sikh, Southwold and Zulu in a brilliant action against strong enemy forces, which were driven off and severely damaged. This action resulted in the safe passage to Malta of an important convoy.”

Seedie's Roll confirms the D.S.M. for services in H.M.S. CLEOPATRA whilst escorting Malta Convoy MW10. The following is an extract from a signal sent by the Prime Minister Winston Churchill to Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, Commander in Chief Mediterranean Fleet:

“I shall be glad if you will convey to Admiral Vian and all who sailed with him the admiration which I feel at this resolute and brilliant action by which the Malta convoy was saved. That one of the most powerful modern battleships afloat attended by two heavy and four light cruisers and a flotilla of destroyers should have been routed and put to flight with severe torpedo and gunfire injury, in broad daylight, by a force of five British light cruisers and destroyers, constitutes a naval episode of the highest distinction and entitles all ranks and ratings concerned and above all their commander to the compliments of the British nation.”

Supply convoy MW10 sailed from Alexandria for Malta on 20 March 1942. The cruiser H.M.S. PENELOPE and destroyer H.M.S. LEGION (Force ‘K’) left Malta on 21 March to rendezvous with the convoy on 22 March. At 1422 hours on the 22 March the Italian battle group sighted the convoy and covering British force and endeavoured to entice the escort group on to the battleship LITTORIO. The action which followed became known as the ‘Second Battle of Sirte’ where a vastly superior enemy force of 1 Battleship, 2 Heavy Cruisers, 4 Light Cruisers and a flotilla of Destroyers were beaten off and severely injured in broad daylight by a British force of 5 Light Cruisers and Destroyers.