Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A unique Second War D.E.M.S. gunner’s D.S.M., Netherlands Bronze Cross group of nine to Sergeant J. Walker, 1st Maritime Battery, Royal Artillery

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (13013279 Sgt. J. Walker, R.A.) officially impressed naming; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; Pacific Star, 1 clasp, Burma; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Netherlands, Bronze Cross, mounted as worn, good very fine and better (9) £2,000-£2,400

Spink, April 1999.

51 Distinguished Service Medals, and 9 Netherlands Bronze Crosses were awarded to the Royal Artillery in the Second World War, Walker being the only man who received both; he was also the first man of the R.A. to receive the D.S.M.

D.S.M. London Gazette 25 August 1942: ‘For skill and bravery while serving in Defensively Equipped Merchant ships.’

Netherlands Bronze Cross London Gazette 6 April 1943: ‘For gallant services while serving in Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships.’

The original recommendation states:

‘As a Gunner of the Netherlands’ Motor Vessel Aagtekerk in January 1942, when she was attacked first by a submarine and then by German aircraft, he acted with courage and ability when executing the instructions given by the Captain, probably owing to which the hostile warship was destroyed and the aerial attack beaten off.’

John Walker was originally a member of the Pioneer Corps but transferred to the maritime branch of the Royal Artillery at a later date. As per the above entries, both of his decorations stemmed from service in Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships and, more specifically, in the Dutch motor vessel Aagtekerk.

Following her close encounter with a U-boat and enemy aircraft in January 1942, Aagtekerk was among the merchantmen selected to join Operation ‘Vigorous’ in June 1942. Owing to mechanical issues, however, she was unable to keep up with the Malta-bound convoy and was ordered to make for Tobruk. Shortly afterwards, she was attacked by enemy aircraft and set on fire and had to beached by her Master.

Walker clearly survived the ordeal, for he was presented with his Netherlands Bronze Cross on 10 October 1942 and attended an investiture at Buckingham Palace to collect his D.S.M. on 23 February 1943.

His D.E.M.S, service record otherwise reveals the commencement of his time in the Maritime Artillery as September 1941, when he joined the S.S. Sourabaya. His subsequent ship appointments encompassed voyages to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Bombay and Durban, including time in the Cunard liner R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth. And he was hospitalised on three occasions, at Halifax in December 1941, after a voyage in the French liner Pasteur, at Durban in July 1943, after a voyage in the Dutch ship Sloterdjik, and at 13 General Hospital in Egypt in October 1943 after a voyage in the liner Stratheden;

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