Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas

The Second War North Russian Convoy ‘PQ 17’ D.S.M. group of eleven awarded to Chief Mechanician S. J. Hughes, H.M.S. Dianella, previously taken prisoner at Antwerp 1914

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (C/K.21108 Chief Mechanician S. J. Hughes.) impressed naming; 1914 Star, with clasp (K.21108 S. Hughes, Sto. 1Cl. Benbow Battn. R.N.D.); British War and Victory Medals (K.21108 S. J. Hughes, Sto. 2, R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, these last five privately named (S. J. Hughes Warrant Mechanician R.N.); Jubilee 1935, named; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., Admiral’s bust, 2nd issue (K.21108 S. J. Hughes, Mech., H.M.S. Cumberland) mounted as worn, the Great War medals good fine, otherwise good very fine (11) £1,800-£2,200

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

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Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, February 1997.

D.S.M. London Gazette 26 January 1943: ‘For Bravery and Resolution in H.M. Ships while taking a convoy to North Russia in the face of relentless attacks by enemy aircraft and submarines.’

The following recommendation was extracted from Admiralty records:

‘Samuel James Hughes, Chief Mechanician, H.M.S. Dianella. For efficient performance of his duties in full charge of the engines throughout an arduous period in North Russia from July to September 1942 and particularly as part of the escort of PQ.17 and for fine example shown when carrying 61 survivors in the ship for 8 days, and his sound bearing during repeated air attacks.’

PQ 17, consisting of 36 merchant ships, left Reykjavik on 27 July 1942, bound for North Russia and carrying arms and supplies at a critical phase of the War in Russia. The importance attributed to this convoy may be judged by the size of the close escort which comprised: the Destroyers Keppel, Offa, Fury, Leamington, Ledbury and Wilton; Corvettes Lotus, Poppy, Dianella and La Malouine; Minesweepers Brittomart, Halcyon and Salamander; Trawlers Lord Austin, Ayrshire, Northern Gem and Lord Middleton; AA Ships Palomares and Pozarica; and the Submarines P614 and P615. The close covering force consisted of the Cruisers London, Norfolk, Tuscaloosa (USA) and Wichita (USA), and Destroyers Somali, Rowan and Wainwright. The distant covering force consisted of the Battleships Duke of York and Washington, the Aircraft Career Victorious, the Cruisers Cumberland and Nigeria, and 14 Destroyers. The total number of major and minor war ships involved in the escort and support groups was greater than the vessels they were to protect. Yet, with such protection, the Convoy suffered losses of nearly 70%. On 30 June the German Force I put to sea comprising the Battleships Tirpitz, the Cruiser Admiral Hipper, and the Destroyers Karl Galster, Friedrich Ihn, Hans Lody, Thedor Riedel and the Torpedo Boats T7 and T15. On 3 July, Force II put to sea comprising the pocket battleships Lutzow and Admiral Scheer and the Destroyers Z24, Z27, Z28, Z29, Z30 and Richard Beitzen, the intention being to join up with Force I.

Relentless air attacks by bombers flying from German airbases in northern Norway, coupled with incendiary attacks by submarines operating in Wolf packs, began to take a heavy toll on the merchant ships with losses increasing daily. On 4 July the First Sea Lord Admiral Pound, expecting a German surface attack in superior strength on the close support group, ordered the cruisers and escort destroyers to turn back to the west and instructed the convoy to scatter. Between 4 and 6 July, 18 freighters were sunk by surface ships, submarines and land-based aircraft. On 7 July three further ships were torpedoed by submarines. On 10 July three ships were bombed and sunk by aircraft. Only when the surviving ships of the convoy began to straggle onto Archangel did it become apparent that the convoy had suffered catastrophic loses. Nine ships of 56,611 tons were sunk by U-Boats; eight ships of 40,376 tons were sunk by the Luftwaffe; and eight ships which were damaged during air attacks were finished off by U-Boats. A total of 24 ships totalling 143,977 tons were lost, along with 3,350 military vehicles, 430 tanks, 210 aircraft and 99,316 tons of war supplies.

Samuel James Hughes was born in Poplar, London, on 5 June 1894. After earning his living as a porter in a jam factory, he joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class at H.M.S. Pembroke, Chatham, on 24 October 1913. He was drafted to the Royal Naval Division on 17 September 1914 joining the Benbow Battalion and was subsequently sent to Antwerp, where he was captured and interned as a Prisoner of War at H.M.S. Timbertown, Gronigen, Holland, for the remainder of the War.

He had been advanced to Stoker 1st class on 23 October 1914, and to Acting Leading Stoker on 5 February 1921. Whilst serving aboard H.M.S. Cyclops (1923-26) he was made a Stoker Petty Officer on 15 December 1923, and after passing the Mechanician's Course (1924-26) was rated Mechanician aboard H.M.S. Benbow on 21 November 1927. He subsequently served at sea aboard Cumberland (1927-29), Valiant (1930-32), Kent (1932-34) - where he was advanced to Acting Chief Mechanician 2nd Class in march 1933 - and Suffolk, prior to being pensioned on 23 October 1935. During 1933 when serving aboard Kent, he served part of his time as chauffeur Mechanic to the Commander in Chief, China Station. He was awarded the King's Jubilee Medal on 26 June 1935.

Recalled for service in the Second World War on 27 August 1939, he served aboard Lucifer (1939-40) and Ferret (for Dianella) (December 1940 to 18 October 1942), when he was promoted to Temporary Acting Warrant Mechanician, a rank and original seniority date which was confirmed on 15 December 1942. He was released from the service on 26 September 1945. The Corvette H.M.S. Dianella formed part of the escort for Convoy PQ 17. When the convoy scattered and the destroyers of the escort were withdrawn on 4 July 1942, the corvettes, trawlers and rescue ships continued to North Russia and did excellent work in rounding up and taking charge of the scattered ships.

He received his D.S.M. at an investiture at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 16 February 1943.

Sold with original parchment Certificate of Service, certificate for Jubilee Medal, Investiture ticket, numerous naval forms and papers and a quantity of photographs including several of Hughes.