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

The unique First and Second War double D.S.M. and B.E.M. group of four awarded to Boatswain James Moar, Merchant Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (L.1538 J. Moar, Sea. R.N.R. Mediterranean 16 Feb. 1917); Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (J. Moar, Bosn. B.E.M.) impressed naming; British Empire Medal (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (James Moar); Norway, War Medal, Haakon VII (J. Moar 1942) nearly extremely fine (4) £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 12 May 1917: ‘In recognition of zeal and devotion to duty shown in carrying on the trade of the country during the war.’ The recommendation states:

‘SS Buranda Burdick & Cook, London. Attack by submarine 16 February 1917. The master states that the conduct of the two gunners was most brave and plucky, for without them and their gun we should not have been able to save the ship, and calls attention to their exposed position to the enemy’s fire.’

Second D.S.M. London Gazette 6 August 1943: ‘For coolness, courage and devotion to duty under relentless attacks by the enemy while on passage to North Russia.’ For services aboard the S.S. Empire Snow during North Russian convoy PQ18 in September 1942.

B.E.M. London Gazette 12 June 1941 (Birthday Honours). For services in the Norwegian M.V. John Bakke during Operation ‘Rubble’, a voyage from Sweden to the U.K. in January 1941, which broke the German blockade.

James Moar was born in Shetland on 20 June 1898. He won his first D.S.M. for services during a thrilling encounter on 16 February 1917, when the S.S. Buranda was attacked off the coast of Spain by a submarine as long as herself. The enemy opened fire at a distance of more than 3 miles, which was just outside the range of the gun on the steamer, much to the chagrin of Captain F. J. Lane, her commander. Acting as the situation dictated, he altered course to bring the submarine astern and ran for it at top speed The Buranda kept firing on the U-boat, which prudently kept her distance. The Germans at last found the mark, their first hit cut through the main deck and shattered a deck beam, making a hole about eighteen inches square and smashing various water pipes and steam pipes about six feet from the bridge. The following shell hit the lower bridge next to the chart house and exploded in a cabin. It not only wrecked the mess room pantry and steward’s room, but it started a fire which nearly choked Captain Lane on the upper bridge as well as the man at the wheel.

The third shell hit the ship just on the water line and made a hole nearly a yard square, which let the sea into Number 4 hold. At once the ship heeled and began to settle. A master of lesser calibre might have thought the time was come to surrender the ship, but the thought did not enter Captain Lane’s head. His one concern was to cheat the enemy of their quarry. Continuing his flight at top speed, he managed to get out of range after being under fire for fifty minutes, and the German commander, who seemed afraid to punch home his attack, let her go.

Moar’s B.E.M., announced in the Birthday Honours list for 1941, was awarded for his part in Operation ‘Rubble’, when he was Boatswain of the M.V. John Bakke.. After more than six months preparation directed by Mr George Binney, who was attached to the British Legation at Stockholm for the purpose, five Norwegian-owned merchant ships sailed from Brofjord, near Gothenburg, on 23 January 1941. They carried between them 25,000 tons of special steel and steel products and, with crews consisting mainly of British Merchant Navy personnel who had been cut off in Sweden earlier in the war, or Norwegians seeking to join the Allies. All five vessels successfully broke through the German blockade and arrived safely in British waters. The brilliant success of this operation caused another to be attempted the following winter but with disastrous results, only two of the ten ships reaching U.K. ports.

Moar won his second D.S.M. for his services in S.S. Empire Snow in convoy PQ18. This convoy consisted of 40 merchant ships, 2 oilers, 2 anti-aircraft ships and a rescue ship. The Royal Navy escort comprised 34 warships headed by H.M.S. Scylla. The convoy came under relentless air and U-boat attack from 12th to 18th September 1942, resulting in the loss of 13 merchant ships sunk and many badly damaged. Awards to the Empire Snow for PQ18 included two D.S.C’s and four D.S.M’s. Moar should of course have received a Bar to the D.S.M., but clearly the authorities were unaware of his previous award and Moar himself would seem to have said nothing about it either. These are the only known awards of separate D.S.M’s where a Bar should have been awarded, although a similar case is known of two Military Medals.

Moar’s last ship was the S.S. Cape Breton which he joined at Hull on 11 May 1944. According to his Board of Trade record of service Moar was reported missing at the port of Reggio on 10 October 1944: ‘Came on board drunk and went ashore again, not seen since. Now 5 days, police fail to discover traces. Possible fell in dock.’