Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second War D.S.M. group of five awarded to Chief Petty Officer K. J. Kirwin, Coxwain of H.M. Submarine Stonehenge, which was lost with all hands whilst on patrol in the Far East in March 1944

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (A.C.P.O. K. J. Kirwin, P/JX.149065) engraved naming; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star; War Medal, extremely fine (5) £1,400-£1,800

D.S.M. London Gazette 2 May 1944: ‘For outstanding courage, skill and devotion to duty in successful patrols in H.M. Submarines.’ Award sent to next of kin. Only one D.S.O., one D.S.C. and three Distinguished Service Medals awarded to this submarine.

The following citation was extracted from Admiralty Files: ‘As Coxwain of H.M.S. “Stonehenge”, Chief Petty Officer Kirwin has played a vital part in the successful running of the submarine. His fine leadership, untiring devotion to duty and his example of coolness and courage during the sinking of a Japanese seaplane carrier and a merchant ship, together with his bearing in the subsequent counter-attacks, were outstanding and would be hard to equal.’

‘On a patrol in Far Eastern waters in February 1944, H.M.S. Stonehenge sank a heavily escorted Japanese sea plane carrier by a determined attack at close range. She also sank an 800 ton ferry steamer by gunfire. She was handled with great skill and daring by her Commanding Officer, Lieutenant D. S. McN. Verschoyle-Campbell, D.S.C., R.N.’

Lieutenant Verschoyle-Campbell was awarded the D.S.O. for his part in this patrol, adding to the two D.S.C.s and M.I.D. that he had already won when serving in the Torbay under Lt. Cdr. Miers, V.C., D.S.O. and Bar. Verschoyle-Campbell was the youngest Royal Navy officer to gain command of a submarine, and was just 22 when, in July 1942, he went to Buckingham Palace to receive his D.S.C. and Bar from King George VI. The Stonehenge arrived in Ceylon towards the end of 1943 and was to become the first of three Royal Navy submarines to be lost in the war with Japan. Very little is known of events leading up to, and during, the loss of Stonehenge. She sailed from Trincomalee on 25 February 1944, for her third patrol in the Far East. Her billet was in the northern part of the Malacca Straits and in the area of the island of Great Nicobar. Nothing further was heard from Stonehenge and she failed to arrive at Ceylon on 20 March. As the Japanese made no claim regarding her loss, Stonehenge is officially ‘presumed sunk by unknown cause off the Nicobar Islands on 20 March 1944.’

Sold with copied patrol report, recommendation for D.S.M. and other research.