A rare Second World War submariner’s D.S.M. and Bar group of six awarded to Chief Petty Officer R. J. Backhouse, Royal Navy: decorated for a successful “Sub.-on-Sub” engagement in Parthian in June 1940, he added a Bar to his D.S.M. for subsequent gallantry in the Sturgeon during patrols in the Arctic and Norway in 1941-42 - in addition to a “mention” for the destruction of a Vichy French submarine in the interim

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar (J. 109709 R. J. Backhouse, H.M.S. Parthian); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (J. 109709 R. J. Backhouse, C.P.O., H.M.S. Medway), official correction to ship on the last, minor contact marks, good very fine (6) £4000-5000

D.S.M. London Gazette 11 September 1940:

‘For courage, enterprise and devotion to duty in recent engagements.’

Bar to D.S.M. London Gazette 17 November 1942:

‘For courage and skill in successful submarine patrols.’

The original recommendation for an immediate award states:

‘This Chief Petty Officer has shown high qualities of leadership. By his devotion to duty and cheerfulness under arduous conditions he has been an inspiration to the whole ship’s company and contributed largely to the success of the attack on a convoy on 12 August 1942.’



Robert John Backhouse was awarded his D.S.M. in respect his services in H.M. submarine Parthian on the occasion of the sinking of the Italian submarine Diamante off Libya on 20 June 1940, and a Bar to his D.S.M. in respect of subsequent wartime patrols in the Arctic and off Norway in the Sturgeon in 1941-42.

“Parthian” - D.S.M. and “mention”

The Parthian was serving on the China Station on the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939, under Lieutenant-Commander Michael Rimington, R.N., but she was ordered to Alexandria in May 1940 and quickly saw action. Thus her successful “Sub.-on-Sub.” encounter with the Italian Diamante some 30 miles off Tobruk on 20 June, when she fired four torpedoes at a range of just 400 yards, all four finding their mark. Among subsequent awards were a D.S.O. to Rimington and the D.S.M. to Backhouse, which distinction he received at Buckingham Palace on 24 February 1942.

Torpedo attacks aside, Parthian carried out special missions, such as the delivery of an agent to Crete on 20 July 1940 and, on being attached to the 8th Submarine Flotilla at Malta, participated in the “Magic Carpet Run”, the cargo carrying service to the beleaguered island.

Back on more regular duties by January 1941, Parthian delivered her next torpedo attack off Punta Stilo, Calabria, sinking the Italian merchantman Carlo Martinolich, while on 16 March she damaged the Giovanni Bocaccio east of Malta; similarly, too, the Italian oiler Strombo, east of Limnos, on 3 June, in addition to sinking three smaller vessels in a strike against the harbour at Mitylene on the 8th.

But it was probably for Backhouse’s part in Parthian’s next action that he was mentioned in despatches ‘for courage, enterprise and devotion to duty in successful submarine patrols’, namely the torpedoing and sinking of the Vichy French submarine Souffleur off Beirut on 25 June 1941 (London Gazette 7 October 1941 refers). Rimington received a Bar to his D.S.O.

Towards the end of the year, Parthian underwent a refit in the U.S.A., and Backhouse returned to the U.K. to take up an appointment in the Sturgeon.

“Sturgeon” - Bar to D.S.M.

Commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Mervyn Wingfield, R.N., Sturgeon was actively engaged on patrol work in the Arctic and off Norway in the period November 1941 to September 1942, the same period for which Backhouse was awarded a Bar to his D.S.M.

Most notable of her actions was the sinking of a valuable supply ship on 12 August 1942 - ‘carried out attack, firing three torpedoes, one of which was heard to hit. Estimated size of merchant ship 3500 tons. Ship was low in water. Trawler counter-attacked, dropping five depth-charges.’

He was invested with his Bar at Buckingham Palace on 6 July 1943.