Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Second War ‘Operation Dragoon’ Landing Craft Coxswain’s D.S.M. awarded to Leading Seaman S. C. Wilson, Royal Navy, for his gallantry during the attempted landing on Red Sector, Camel Beach, 15 August 1944

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (Temp. L.S. S. C. Wilson. D/JX. 184980) suspension claw loose, very fine £1,400-£1,800

D.S.M. London Gazette 27 March 1945:

‘For distinguished service and gallantry during the invasion of the South of France.’

The original recommendation states:

‘Did continue to lay heavy flanking smoke screen with L.C.M. (S) 1032 on Red Beach, covering the assault waves, despite heavy enemy opposition and several hits on the craft.

Remarks of Administrative Authority:

Forwarded for favourable consideration. In spite of continuous machine gun fire this rating closed his craft to within a short range of a strong point and in spite of his craft being ... a smoke screen for about two hours to shield his craft going in to the beaches. Has displayed a high standard of courage, and his complete disregard for his own personal safety was in the best traditions of the service.’

Stanley Cyril Wilson served as a Coxswain for L.C.M. (S) 1032 during Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of the South of France. The landing operations commenced, after a heavy and prolonged aerial bombardment, on the morning of 15 August 1944. Wilson’s landing craft was tasked with operations in and around the Red Sector of Camel Beach (Saint-Rapaël), the latter being the area that offered the most resistance from the three beaches involved:

‘The landings were overwhelmingly successful. On Delta and Alpha beaches, German resistance was low. The Osttruppen surrendered quickly, and the biggest threats to the Allies were the mines. A single German gun and a mortar position were silenced by destroyer fire. The Allied units in this sector were able to secure a bridgehead and quickly linked up with the paratroopers, capturing Saint-Tropez and Le Muy. The most serious fighting was on Camel Beach near the town of Saint-Raphaël. This beach was defended by several well-emplaced coastal guns, as well as flak batteries. Through heavy German fire, the Allies attempted to land at the shore. However, at sector Red of the Camel Beach landing zone, the Allies were not able to succeed. A bombing run of 90 Allied B-24 bombers was called in against a German strong point here. Even with the assistance of naval fire, the Allies were not able to bring the landing ships close to the shore. They decided to avoid Camel Red and land only at the sectors of Camel Blue and Camel Green, which was successful.’ (Operation Dragoon 1944: France’s other D-Day, S. J. Zaloga refers)