Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Second World War Malta operations D.S.M. and ‘Taranto’ M.I.D. group of seven awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer Jack Derrick, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (MX. 47311 J. Derrick, C.E.R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (MX. 47311 J. Derrick, C.E.R.A., H.M.S. Erebus), mounted as worn, good very fine and better (7) £1800-2200

D.S.M. London Gazette 6 October 1942: ‘For bravery, endurance and sustained devotion to duty in H.M. Ships during, and after at Malta, the passage of an important convoy.’

The original recommendation states:

‘The Engineer Officer was badly wounded on 1 April 1942. This young C.E.R.A. took charge of the machinery of the ship in a most competent manner and by his untiring efforts and example got her ready for sea by 4 April. After the ship was twice hit by bombs that day, he was outstanding in his ability to get repairs effected while under heavy fire.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 24 February 1942: ‘For gallantry, skill and resolution in a brilliant night action south of Taranto, against odds, in which, without hurt or loss to the Royal Navy, ten enemy supply ships were wholly destroyed, one destroyer sunk, and at least one other badly damaged.’

Jack Derrick won both his D.S.M. and “mention” for services aboard the destroyer H.M.S. Lance in the Mediterranean (Lieutenant-Commander R. W. F. Northcott, D.S.O., R.N.), the latter in respect of a remarkable action fought by “Force K” off Taranto on 9 November 1941, when at least one Italian destroyer and five transports were sunk, in addition to two German transports - Lance fired over 400 4-inch shells in the action.

“Force K” went on to intercept another Axis convoy on the 24th of the same month, this time sinking the German transports Maritza and Procida, but on the 19th December, during the course of intercepting yet another Axis convoy, “Force K” - comprising on this occasion the cruisers Neptune, Aurora and Penelope, and the destroyers Kandahar, Lively and Havock, in addition to Lance - ran into a newly laid Italian minefield: Neptune and Kandahar were sunk, and Penelope and Aurora damaged.

Having then sailed in further Malta convoys, Lance was docked at Valetta for repairs, and it was during this latter period that Derrick won his D.S.M. Like her famous “Force K” consort the Penelope (a.k.a. “H.M.S. Pepperpot”), Lance endured constant attack, the raid of 4 April being a classic example - 24 hours later she was “blown off her blocks”, as a result of which she became partially submerged, and less than a week later she received further damage, so much so that she was written off as a constructive total loss.

Jack Derrick was born at Alverstoke, Hampshire, on 16 June 1912, and joined the Navy after leaving school aged 16. At the outbreak of war he was serving in the monitor Erebus, and in March 1940 transferred to the destroyer Sutton, taking an active part in the evacuation of the Allied armies from Dunkirk. After his exploits in Lance, he joined the Beryl, a Malta based trawler converted for anti-submarine duties. Beryl became famous as the only Royal Navy warship to remain afloat and serve at Malta throughout the siege, becoming known as the “flagship of Malta”. He once again joined Erebus in March 1944 and served in her until the end of the war, seeing service off the coast of Normandy and at Walcheren during the landings there later that year. Derrick was invested with his D.S.M. on 2 March 1945.

In post-war years he was posted to Canada where he joined the Mull of Kintyre in November 1945, remaining in her until April 1948. In the final years of his naval career he served at Hornet, Coastal Forces base at Gosport (1948-50), the aircraft carrier Indomitable (1950-52, and the Adamant, submarine depot ship at Portsmouth (1952-53). He retired to his pension on 13 July 1953, and afterwards lived at Gosport, where he was employed by the Ministry of Defence as a Naval Stores Officer. He died at Portsmouth on 25 August 1968 at the age of 56.

Sold with the recipient’s original M.I.D. certificate, dated 24 February 1942, and a comprehensive file of research and several copied photographs.