An outstanding Second War Submariner’s D.S.M. and Bar group of seven awarded to Chief Petty Officer Ronald Pain, for services aboard H.M. Submarines Sturgeon, Trusty and Trump

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar (J.115048 R. Pain, P.O. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; War Medal; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (P.O. H.M.S. Trusty) together with original Certificate of Service, four photographs and various letters, and a silvered shield inscribed ‘H.M.S/M. Trusty, July 1941-June 1943’, listing seven vessels destroyed between October 1941 and February 1943, and details of longest patrol and other relevant facts, generally very fine (7) £2500-3000

D.S.M. London Gazette 12 November 1940: ‘For outstanding service in H.M. Submarine Sturgeon during a most successful and enterprising patrol in enemy waters between 27th August and 13th September, 1940, during which she sank a 10,000 ton escorted enemy transport carrying troops and attacked a large enemy submarine, the result of which was probably successful. Petty Offcier Pain showed marked devotion to duty and leadership and maintained his department in a high state of efficiency.’

Bar to D.S.M. London Gazette 20 November 1945: ‘For service in H.M. Submarine Trump during many war patrols. Chief Petty Officer Pain had been the Torpedo Gunner’s Mate in H.M.S. Trump since she was first commissioned. He is recognised in the Depot Ship as perhaps one of the finest T.I.s in the Submarine branch, and has maintained the torpedo armament in H.M.S. Trump at the highest efficiency which resulted in success in action. Perseverence, loyalty, high morale and happiest only when he is working - I can give this man nothing but praise. Chief Petty Offcier Pain has done 35 War Patrols.’ The recommendation further states: ‘H.M.S. Trump in her short period of service in Eastern waters has inflicted considerable damage on the enemy. Targets were scarce and could only be found by penetrating shallow and dangerous waters. In the final phase of the submarine war H.M. Submarines reached a peak of aggressiveness never surpassed and H.M.S. Trump was among the most aggressive.’

Ronald Pain was born at Canning Town, London, on 3 December 1909, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 8 September 1925. He served aboard many ships, including the battleships Barham, Nelson and Revenge, before joining the Submarine branch on 29 August 1936. He joined the S-class submarine Shark in July 1937 and transferred to her sister boat Snapper in September 1938. He was still serving in Snapper when war broke out but left her at the end of October 1939. He joined Sturgeon in February 1940 and took part in her successful War Patrol off the Kattegat area of the Swedish coast, for which he won his first Distinguished Service Medal.

Pain joined the newly commissioned T-class submarine Trusty in April 1941, and took part in a large number of War Patrols in her during the next three years. She sank a 5,000 ton Italian supply ship on 25 October 1941, and in the following 12 months from February 1942 she sank six Japanese ships with a total tonnage of more than 30,000 tons. In the period July 1941 to June 1943, Trusty covered 80,000 miles and crossed the equator eight times. Her longest patrol lasted 54 days and covered 10,000 miles. Despite this impressive record, Trusty was rewarded with only two D.S.M.’s and two mentions, all of which were New Year’s Honours.

Having left Trusty on 17 April 1944, Petty Officer Pain joined the newly commissioned Trump, as Torpedo Gunner’s Mate, on the following day. Trump was despatched to the Far East with orders to ‘wage unrestricted submarine warfare against the enemy in order to destroy his shipping and to deny him use of vital shipping lanes.’ Her second War Patrol (13 March to 13 April 1945) was relatively uneventful, but her third War Patrol (4 May to 17 June) was packed with incident and success in the East Java Sea. Her fourth and final patrol, in co-operation with H.M.S/M. Tiptoe, was even more successful with Merchant ships of 6,500 and 4,000 tons sunk by Trump and Tiptoe respectively, as well as another three smaller vessels sunk and one damaged.

Chief Petty Officer Pain left Trump on 13 October 1945, and finally left the Navy in December 1949. He had received his L.S. & G.C. medal in March 1943 and was rewarded with a Bar to his D.S.M. in November 1945, one of approximately 153 bars awarded during the Second War. Sold with lengthy and detailed copy Patrol Reports and recommendations for both awards.