Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare and unusual Second War D.S.M. and Malaya operations B.E.M. group of seven awarded to Petty Officer Telegraphist Lionel Wright, Royal Navy, who, as a Volunteer took part in clandestine S.O.E. operations and offensive patrols aboard Italian M.T.B.s

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (P.O. Tel. L. Wright. D/JX.138004); British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 2nd issue (P.O. Tel. Lionel Wright, D/JX 138004); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue (JX.138004 L. Wright D.S.M B.E.M P.O. Tel. H.M.S. Nuthatch.) official correction to ‘H.M.S.’, good very fine (7) £3,000-£4,000

D.S.M. London Gazette 24 April 1945: ‘For courage and determination in the performance of duty during the operations following the invasion of Italy, Southern France and the islands off the Adriatic Coast.’

The recommendation states: ‘This Petty Officer, though appointed as shore telegraphist, sailed at his own request on a number of offensive patrols in Italian M.T.B.s and on several clandestine operations. He was always an enthusiastic and valuable asset, putting his hand to anything from the V/S, for which he was carried, to keeping a lookout and loading machine guns in action.’
Rear-Admiral Morgan notes: ‘Fully concur. Wright has in addition to his energy, courage and devotion to duty, always shown a very high example to the Italians and other nationalities with whom he has been working and has therefore rendered outstanding service.’

Seedie’s Coastal Forces List confirms service at H.M.S. Fabius, R.N. Base at Taranto - For patrols in Italian M.T.B.s in August 1944.

B.E.M. London Gazette 9 June 1949 (Birthday Honours).

Seedie’s roll confirms this award was for service in operations in Malaya.

In September 1943 the Royal Navy moved small craft from their base at Maddalena in Sardinia to Bastia on the northern tip of Corsica. From Bastia the RN could launch offensive and clandestine operations across the Ligurian Sea to the Italian Coast and Southern France. Bastia was only 82 kilometres to the Italian mainland and 160 to Southern France.

These operations were performed by Combined Operations, by Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.), by MI9, by a Free French Deuxième Bureau, and later the American O.S.S. Sea transport was provided by R.N. Motor Launches and Motor Torpedo Boats, and by U.S. Navy P.T. Boats. After the Italian naval surrender Italian M.A.S. boats (Motoscafi Antisommergibili or motor anti-submarine boats) were utilised. Lionel Wright, although appointed as a shore telegraphist at H.M.S. Fabius, the R.N. base at Taranto, volunteered and sailed on numerous sorties in M.A.S. boats, both offensive and clandestine S.O.E. operations to land and pick up special agents, and recover escapers and evaders. These operations were mostly co-ordinated under the auspices of the African Coastal Flotilla and many are described in detail by A. Cecil Hampshire in Undercover Sailors - Secret Operations of World War II.

Lionel Wright was born in Brentford on 2 June 1916. He received his L.S. & G.C. medal on 30 July 1949, and died at Battle Hospital, Reading, on 30 July 1949.

Sold with case of issue for B.E.M. together with copied research and Ministry of Defence letter confirming P.O. Wright was not issued the Naval General Service Medal with clasp ‘Malaya’.