Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War D.S.M. awarded to Acting Chief Motor Mechanic C. Lonsdale, Royal Navy, for his gallantry during M.L. 238’s daring entry into the enemy held harbour at Krk, in the northern Dalmatians, on the night of 6 December 1944

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (A/C.M.M. C. Lonsdale. P/MX.99499.) extremely fine £1,600-£2,000

D.S.M. London Gazette 21 August 1945:
‘For courage, initiative, and great devotion to duty in damage control after the M.L. 28 [sic - M.L. 238] had made a daring entry into the enemy-held harbour of Krk, on the night of 6 December 1945 [sic - 1944]’.

M.L. 238’s Daring entry into Krk Harbour
‘A further spirited engagement was the outcome of a daring entry by M.L. 238, under the command of Lieutenant-Commander W. Gibson, R.N.R., into the harbour of the enemy-occupied island of Krk, in the northern Dalmatians south of Fiume. Three Motor Launches were involved: Gibson’s vessel; M.L. 468 (Lieutenant F. A. Scott, R.N.V.R.); and M.L. 460 (Lieutenant K. D. Dewar, R.N.V.R.). Gibson had been ordered to hunt out and to attack two enemy craft reported to be patrolling off Krk. They arrived on their ground soon after 9 p.m. on 6 December 1944. There was a full moon, with a south-easterly breeze and slight swell, with occasional heavy rain squalls blotting down the visibility to almost nothing.

The patrol was carried out within 100 to 200 yards of the shore, Gibson purposely keeping close in, as the moonlight was very bright between squalls and he wanted to keep under the shadow of the land. However, they sighted no enemy craft, and at about 11.30 p.m. moved off towards Krk town with the intention of ‘having a look in the harbour, with the possibility of sinking something inside’.

At ten minutes past midnight, Gibson detached Motor Launches 468 and 460 half a mile from the harbour entrance with orders to cover him with their gunfire ‘if things got too warm and I am unable to get out’. He took his own ship into the little port, which has an entrance about 200 yards wide and is partly protected by a breakwater, the end of which he passed within 50 yards. About 300 yards away he soon saw what he took to be five craft tucked into a corner of the harbour deep under the shadow of the land. They looked like schooners and lighters; but, wishing to make certain, he switched on his small searchlight. The moment he did so he was fired upon by a battery of six 20-mm guns.

As he wrote: ‘I opened fire with Bofors at the surface craft ahead... They [the 20-mm. guns] were replied to by our midship and after Oerlikons. Numerous light machine guns were observed firing from both the mole to port and a low quay to starboard... These were silenced in about one minute by very effective fire from both port and starboard twin Vickers. Hits were observed in the direction of the surface craft, and a dull red glow was seen, followed by a small explosion.’
Then the Bofors shifted its fire to the shore battery on the starboard bow. The noise of the gunfire was terrific. ‘We were receiving some hits from these guns, and the white tracer from their guns, and the red tracer, together with shell-bursts of Oerlikon and Bofors, were illuminating the town and ship at so close a range - roughly 100 yards.

At about 20 minutes past midnight Gibson put his engine to slow astern, with the idea of backing out of harbour. But the stern of his ship fell off to starboard, which left her across the harbour entrance. It was then found that both engines were out of action, petrol pipes having been cut by a 20-mm shell bursting in the engine-room. However, except for one gun, all the shore batteries had ceased firing, and a few rounds from the Bofors silenced this one. ‘I ordered cease fire, although still in the harbour entrance, about 50 yards from the south mole. My intention was to make another investigation and see if the boat could be got clear without calling in the others to assist.’
They succeeded in this. The fuel tanks were changed over, and although the engines had an airlock in the fuel system, the boat was got under way by constant hand pumping and joined her consorts outside. M.L. 238 was hit at least eleven times by 20-mm shell, and many more times by splinters and bullets. As may be imagined, she was fairly badly knocked about, but by some miracle had no casualties at all.

In his report of the engagement, Gibson mentioned Acting Chief Motor Mechanic Cecil Lonsdale and Stoker John Nugent, whose action in the engine-room undoubtedly saved the ship from destruction. This was endorsed by a senior officer, who added that the shooting of M.L. 238’s guns seemed to have been very accurate against the shore positions, ‘which is very much to the credit of the discipline and morale of the crew under close and heavy fire’.

Sold with original Naval Gratuity Certificate, awarding the recipient a gratuity of £20 in respect of his D.S.M.; and somewhat damaged Admiralty enclosure announcing the award of the D.S.M.