Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte

The Second World War D.S.M. group of six awarded to Able Seaman G. E. Sharratt, Royal Navy, who, having been decorated for his part in the boarding of the Italian submarine Perla in July 1942, went on to witness the destruction of three U-Boats in the frigate Affleck - and win the Royal Humane Society’s Medal for saving many lives on the occasion of the loss of the frigate Gould in 1944

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (JX. 159716 G. E. Sharratt, A.B.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Humane Society’s Lifesaving Medal, bronze (successful) (L./Seaman George E. Sharrett, R.N., 29th Feby. to 1st March 1944), complete with riband brooch for wearing, minor edge bruises to the first and last, generally good very fine (6) £1800-2200

D.S.M. London Gazette 17 November 1942:
For daring, skill and devotion to duty in action against enemy submarines while serving in H.M.S. Hyacinth.’

The original recommendation states:
‘For courage and devotion to duty in following his superior officer Sub. Lieutenant Rowley, R.N.V.R., into the submarine, and compelling the prisoners to go below and for remaining there until the submarine was handed over to the shore authorities, He constantly refused relief under very trying conditions.’

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte.

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The Flower-class corvette Hyacinth captured the Italian submarine Perla on 9 July 1942, after the latter had made a failed torpedo attack. Swiftly delivering three accurate depth-charge patterns in retaliation, the corvette forced the enemy submarine to the surface and, following some accurate gunnery work, sent a boarding party over in her whaler - among the latter was Able Seaman Sharratt, who, with Lieutenant Rowley, was the first to spring on to the Perla’s casing. After the fleeing Italians had been forced back into the conning tower, and down below, it largely fell to Sharratt to keep them under control, as the submarine was towed to Haifa. Meanwhile, as a result of the quick work of the boarding party, confidential books and documents were recovered for the perusal of Naval Intelligence. Hyacinth’s captain was awarded the D.S.O., two of his officers D.S.Cs, and Sharratt and four other ratings D.S.Ms - and the Perla was commissioned into service in the 1st Submarine Flotilla.

As it transpired, Sharratt was to be present at the demise of at least three more enemy submarines when serving in the frigate Affleck, Commander C. Gwinner, D.S.O., D.S.C., the first of them, the U-91, on 22 February 1944 - her commander, Walter Hungershausen, and 15 others, were taken prisoner; the second, the U-358, on 1 March 1944 - there were no survivors; and the third, the U-392, on 16 March 1944 - once again there were no survivors.

Of these “kills”, the most remarkable was the destruction of the U-358, following a running engagement and pursuit that lasted for 39 hours - the longest such episode recorded in the entire War. And it was towards the end of this memorable duel with Gwinner’s First Escort Group that the enemy commander, his U-Boat now in extremis, got off an acoustic torpedo which mortally damaged the frigate Gould - she went down with seven officers and 116 ratings. Yet, as evidenced by the above described award of the R.H.S. Medal and the Society’s records, these grim statistics may have been a good deal worse:

‘The sea was heavy. Ship rolled rapidly and savagely, rescue ship drifting beam on to wind to any flotsam. Affleck proceeded to pick up survivors. Despite the fact that both ear drums had been burst, Lieutenant Grant went over the side on a rope and succeeded in saving many lives. Leading Seaman Sharrett (sic) also went over the side, and for two hours was in the water, regardless of the danger of being dragged under bilge keels. He saved many lives.’

So far as the U-358 was concerned, she fell to the concentrated fire of three frigates, but chiefly that of the Affleck, her back being broken before she rolled over and sank.