Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A very rare ‘Tobruk landings’ D.S.M. awarded to Temporary Corporal L. J. Andrews, Royal Marines

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (Ex.734 E. J. Andrews. T/Cpl. R.M.) extremely fine £4000-5000

D.S.M. London Gazette 3 August 1943: ‘For gallantry in the face of heavy odds in landings near Tobruk:- Corporal (Temporary) Leslie Joseph Andrews, Ex.734, Royal Marines.’

Awarded for operation ‘Agreement’, the disastrous combined raid on Tobruk on 13th-14th September 1942. Only 2 D.S.O’s, two C.G.M’s and 2 D.S.M’s were awarded for this raid, all to Royal Marines.

‘The Honours and Awards Committee has considered the services of Officers and Men of the Royal Marines engaged in Operation ‘Agreement’, the landing at Tobruk made on the night of 13/14th September, 1942, and submits that the King be asked to approve the Appointment and Awards set forth below.

‘All those recommended did gallant service in the face of heavy odds. After a stern fight, the entire survivors of the force were taken prisoner. Evidence of individual acts of courage has been obtained from those repatriated. In the case of those here submitted, all but Lt. C. N. P. Powell, R.M., who is still a prisoner of war, have returned to this country.’

There follows the detailed recommendations for the six awards, including that to Corporal Andrews, which states: ‘This N.C.O. took part in the landing operations from H.M.S. “Sikh” at Tobruk during the night 13/14 September 1942. Whilst his tow was proceeding inshore the tow rope parted and fouled the propeller of the landing boat. He immediately jumped overboard in the darkness and for over one hour, much of the time under fire from shore batteries, he endeavoured to free the propeller of his landing craft. Eventually he succeeded and although by then it was too late to proceed inshore the craft was able to pick up survivors when H.M.S. “Sikh” was abandoned. This N.C.O’s fortitude and determination was in keeping with the highest traditions of the service and by this act his boat saved many lives which might otherwise not have been possible.’

The objective of this sea-borne raid on Tobruk, code-named Operation ‘Agreement’, was to gain control of the harbour and to demolish the installations of a port which saved the Germans 260 miles of road transport. Prepared in the greatest secrecy and timing its assault with land operations by the Long Range Desert Group, the 11th Battalion R.M. embarked at Haifa in the destroyers Sikh and Zulu and, escorted by the cruiser Coventry and two Hunt Class destroyers. At nightfall Sikh and Zulu broke away from their escort, steaming due west at top speed until, at midnight, they altered course and turned south for Tobruk. At this moment sixty R.A.F. Wellingtons began a three hours’ bombardment of the town. At 2 a.m. the code word “Nigger” was received, indicating that the L.R.D.G. had taken a coastal battery at the mouth of the harbour. This was the signal for the Marines on board Sikh and Zulu, and the craft for the assault were lowered.

Unfortunately, they were not the famous L.C.A. (Landing Craft Assault) which were afterwards used so successfully in North Africa, in Italy and in Normandy. These consisted of six wooden power-boats each towing two lighters. In the heavy swell the craft tossed like corks, making it difficult for the heavily equipped men to embark. Worse was to follow, for the tow ropes failed to stand the strain and only three sets of barges succeeded in struggling to the beach. Meanwhile, the enemy had become aware of what was happening and opened up with his heavy coastal batteries on Sikh and Zulu, while smaller guns poured their fire on the barges as they neared the shore. Sikh was mortally struck, and after a gallant attempt to tow her away Zulu was forced to abandon her and sheer off, only to be sunk herself by devastating air-attack on her way back to Alexandria.

Fewer than 100 marines survived the terrible passage from ship to shore, where they made a desperate but hopeless assault. Those not killed were taken prisoner. So too were the survivors of the landing craft that did not make it ashore, and the few survivors from the Sikh who they had managed to rescue. Most of the crew of the Sikh, however, were forced to take to the water and thus her losses were very great, amounting to 15 officers and 260 ratings. Those that survived the water, in many cases for some twelve hours, were also taken prisoner. For the full story of Operation ‘Agreement’ see the book Massacre at Tobruk by Peter C. Smith, William Kimber, London, 1987.