Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine ‘Aandalsnes’ Norway 1940 D.S.M. group of nine awarded to C. C. Roy, Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (JX.134376 A/P.O. Tel. H.M.S. Black Swan); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; Korea 1950-53 (D/JX.134376 D.S.M. C.P.O. Tel. R.N.); U.N. Korea; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue (D.S.M. C.P.O. Tel. H.M.S. Drake) mounted as worn, nearly very fine (9) £600-700

D.S.M. London Gazette 25 June 1940: ‘For courage and resource in operations on the Norwegian Coast. Acting Petty Officer Telegraphist Cecil Clarence Roy, H.M.S. Black Swan.’

The following details are taken from the action report submitted by Captain A. L. Poland, commanding Black Swan, who was awarded the D.S.O. for his part in the action: ‘A/P.O. C. C. Roy and L/Sig. A. F. Lawrence. Once again these two ratings worked unremittingly throughout the three days the ship was at Aandalsnes, with very little respite and dealt with an abnormal situation most efficiently. Roy is to be specially commended for the speed with which he rigged the jury aerial when the ship’s aerial was shot away and for maintaining W/T communications under difficult conditions... who with the whole of his W/T staff, worked unremittingly throughout the operation, and who was himself their mainstay almost without rest for six days.’

H.M.S. Black Swan was taking part in Operation ‘Primrose’, in which small Royal Marines and Royal Navy landings were made at Aandalsnes, Aalesund and Molde in central Norway in preparation for larger landings planned for the recapture of Trondheim. Having landed her troops at Aandalsnes on 17 April, Black Swan was then to provide anti-aircraft cover for the ground forces, which she did for the next nine days, arriving back at Aandalsnes on the evening of the 26th April where she found the town on fire after heavy enemy aerial attacks, and the frigate Flamingo lying off, with no ammunition left. Over the course of the next two days she came under heavy and sustained aerial attack and, on the 28th, received a direct hit from a 250lb bomb which ‘passed through upper deck abreast after superstructure, through Wardroom, thence through bulkhead between starboard fresh water tank and No. 3 Magazine and out through bottom of ship making a hole 3 -4 feet in diameter. Bomb burst after passing through bottom and appeared to lift and shake the whole after part of ship. Only 2 casualties.’ The Black Swan accounted for at least 7 and probably 10 enemy aircraft over the course of these two days, and several others were damaged and may not have got back. Damage to the ship itself, whilst serious, was not fatal, and casualties were miraculously light, three men only being wounded. Sold with full details and copies of Admiralty action reports.