Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas (Part I)

The Second War battle of the River Plate D.S.M. group of five awarded to Chief Petty Officer A. E. Fuller, who was decorated for his gallant deeds in Commodore Harwood’s command H.M.S. Ajax, when she took several serious hits from Graf Spee’s main armament

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R., the edge officially dated ‘1939’ but otherwise unnamed as issued; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (JX.126965 A. E. Fuller. C.P.O. H.M.S. Mosquito) mounted as worn contact marks, otherwise very fine (5) £4,000-£5,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 23 February 1940: ‘For the gallant and successful action with the Admiral Graf Spee.’

The original recommendation states:

‘[He] was in charge of an electrical repair party in the immediate vicinity of a compartment in which an 11-inch shell burst putting out all lights and causing extensive damage to electrical gear. He immediately took efficient action to provide lighting and control the damage, and displayed great courage, presence of mind and good leadership.’

Note:
Owing to a special parade being arranged at short notice at Horse Guards in February 1940, at which the King, flanked by Chamberlain and Churchill, presented awards to men from Ajax and Exeter, time prevented the D.S.Ms being fully inscribed. Instead, they were officially dated ‘1939’; Fuller, in common with other decorated River Plate men, chose not to return his award for full and proper naming at a later date.

Albert Edward Fuller was born at Woolwich, Kent on 16 September 1910 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in May 1926.

By the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939, he was serving as a Petty Officer in the cruiser H.M.S. Ajax, and it was in this capacity that he was quickly saw action in the battle of the River Plate.

The River Plate

In early December 1939, Commodore Harwood in Ajax received action reports from British shipping of an enemy raider. Taking into consideration the locations and timings of those actions, he calculated that if the raider chose to head for South America, it would probably arrive in the area off the River Plate on the morning of the 13 December. The Commodore’s hunch was right, for having collected there on the previous day, with his consorts Achilles and Exeter, smoke was spotted on the horizon on the morning of the 13th. Exeter was ordered to investigate and soon signalled, ‘I think it is a pocket battleship.’ It was indeed the Admiral Graf Spree and on Harwood’s cruisers went into action at 0617 hours.

Graf Spee initially concentrated her fire on Exeter, but by rapidly closing their adversary, Ajax and Achilles began to draw her fire and cause significant damage to the enemy raider’s upper decks. In fact, the speed at which they closed Graf Spee rattled Captain Langsdorff, who later observed, “they came at me like destroyers.” In consequence, Graf Spee turned to the west at 0636 hours, from whence she would commence her retreat. Exeter, meanwhile, nursing serious battle damage and a loss of 66 men, made for the Falklands.

At around 0725 hours, Graf Spee steadied herself and re-engaged Ajax and Achilles, the former taking serious hits in her X and Y turrets and suffering a dozen casualties, seven of them fatal, whilst Achilles also took severe damage to her director-control. However, Ajax managed to deliver a persuasive torpedo attack, encouraging Graf Spee to maintain her westward course, which she did. In fact, Captain Langsdorff broke off the action.

In the words of Leslie Denis, like Fuller, a Petty Officer in Ajax, events subsequently took a turn for the better:

‘Graf Spee then drew off and set a course for Montevideo where the stage was set for her arrival. During the day, a radio operator from New York was giving a running commentary on events. We withdrew out to sea and heard everything on the ship’s radio, broadcast throughout the ship, courtesy of the overseas service of the BBC which was picking up the transmission from the shore. So although we had withdrawn to the horizon, we had a ringside seat.

By this time, H.M.S. Cumberland had arrived from the Falkland Islands, and was a valuable addition to our force. We withdrew out to sea and buried our dead. On 17 December the Graf Spee slipped her moorings and proceeded out to sea. We had closed to within five miles of the port. Graf Spee stopped just outside the three-mile limit and disembarked her crew. Shortly afterwards, huge explosions were heard from her - she was on fire. All ships closed in as far as was safe, and the order to cheer was given. The ships’ companies cheered each other like mad … ’

Fuller departed Ajax in late March 1940, but not before participating in the major celebrations that took place in London on Ajax’s return to the U.K.

Among those invested with their D.S.M. by King George VI at a special parade held on Horse Guards in February 1940, Fuller would also have attended the subsequent Guildhall ‘victory luncheon’ held in honour of the heroes of the River Plate.

Having then spent time ashore at the torpedo establishment Vernon, he returned to sea in the destroyer Hero in the period March 1941 to April 1942. Thereafter, up until June 1944, he served at a succession of Coastal Forces bases, at Wasp and Hornet in the U.K. and at Razorbill in Algiers, Mosquito in Alexandria and Gregale at Malta. His service record also notes that he was admitted to No. 64 General Hospital in mid-June 1942.

Awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in July 1944, Fuller ended the war back at Vernon, where he was appointed a Gunner (T.) in June 1945.

Sold with copied record of service and recommendation for D.S.M.