A Second World War Coastal Forces operations D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Able Seaman L. Lord, Royal Fleet Reserve, late Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallantry in M.L. 480 during hazardous minesweeping operations between Fano and Rimini in the Adriatic in August-September 1944: ‘his personal courage and devotion to duty had a very far reaching influence during these prolonged operations’

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (A.B. L. Lord, C/SSX. 30595); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (SSX. 30595 L. Lord, D.S.M., Ch. B. 28647 A.B., R.F.R.), minor contact wear, very fine and better (7) £1200-1400

D.S.M. London Gazette 15 May 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘For courage and cheerful example. Throughout he has invariably shown outstanding coolness, cheerfulness and disregard for personal safety, rallying, and setting a fine example to the younger ratings whenever this has been necessary, for example, when recovering sweeps by hand under shell fire.’

Lester Lord was born in Chorlton, Lancashire in April 1920 and entered the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman in June 1939.

Advanced to Able Seaman shortly after the outbreak of hostilities, he served in the destroyer H.M.S. Douglas from February 1940 to September 1942, in which period he saw action in the Mediterranean, Atlantic and on the Arctic run. As flotilla leader of the 2nd Escort Group, Western Approaches Command, Douglas depth-charged and sunk the U-65 south-east of Iceland in April 1941, while defending Convoy HX 121; she was also present in the early stages of ill-fated Convoy PQ-17 in June 1942.

Towards the end of 1942, Lord came ashore to Osprey, the A./S. School at Portland and, having qualified as an S.D. operator, was posted to Hannibal, the Coastal Forces base at Algiers, in January 1943. Then in April he joined M.L. 480 in Malta, in which capacity he won the D.S.M. for his part in hazardous minesweeping operations in the Adriatic in the late summer of 1944.

Returning home to an appointment in Hornet, the Coastal Forces base at Gosport, in November 1944, Lord went on to attend the A./S. establishments Osprey and Nimrod, and ended the war at the Harwich base Kittiwake. He was released from service in September 1946, when he enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve, and was finally discharged ‘time expired’ in June 1956, the same year in which he was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including Buckingham Palace forwarding letter for the recipient’s D.S.M. and related Admiralty letter informing him of the award of the D.S.M., this dated 19 May 1945; his Certificate of Service, Gunnery History Sheet and Submarine Detector History Sheet; Order of Release from Naval Service, dated 10 February 1954; letter of notification for the award of his R.F.R. L.S. & G.C. Medal and several wartime photographs, including the recipient.