A Second War D.S.M. awarded to Able Seaman T. J. Seaborne, Royal Navy, ‘for courage and skill in a successful action against an enemy submarine in heavy seas’

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (JX.138057 T. J. Seaborne. A.B. H.M.S. Rhododendron.) in case of issue, nearly very fine £1,200-£1,600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The James Fox Collection of Naval Awards.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 4 March 1941: ‘For courage and skill in a successful action against an enemy submarine in heavy seas:
Able Seaman (subsequently corrected to ‘Temporary Acting Leading Seaman’ per London Gazette 27 January 1942) Thomas James Seaborne, P/JX.138057, H.M.S. Rhododendron.’

In addition to this award, Lieut.-Commander W. N. M. Faichney, R.N.R., received the D.S.O., Lieutenant R. Atkinson, R.N.R., received the D.S.C., and E.R.A.4 Andrew Paton, also received the D.S.M.

On 21 November 1940, Rhododendron, part of the escort for Convoy OB244, attacked the German U-boat U-103 with depth charges, helping to drive the submarine away from the convoy. This attack is often credited with the destruction of U-104, but this is, however, not the case and the cause of U-104's loss is still not clear. That same day, Rhododendron picked up 36 survivors from the merchant ship Daydawn, which earlier that day had been sunk by U-103.