Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second War 1942 Fairey Swordfish pilot’s D.S.C. awarded to Lieutenant D. C. Scott, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, for his gallantry in two successful attacks upon an enemy convoy bound for Tripoli; he was later killed in action on 4 September 1944

Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., silver, hallmarks for London 1942, reverse officially dated ‘1943’ and contemporarily engraved ‘Sub/Lt (A) D. C. Scott R.N.V.R. Malta 1942’, in Garrard, London, case of issue, extremely fine £800-£1,200

D.S.C. London Gazette 15 December 1942:
‘For great skill and resolution in two attacks upon an enemy convoy bound for Tripoli, when his torpedoes hit an enemy Merchant Ship and a Tanker.’

Denis Charles Scott joined the Fleet Air Arm, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, in 1941, and was posted to the Royal Naval Base at Malta (for miscellaneous duties) up until April that year. He was subsequently serving as a Sub Lieutenant at the Royal Navy Air Station, Hal Far, Malta when: ‘It was here that he was engaged in an aerial attack on a German convoy on 19 October 1942 when his plane scored hits on a motor ship and a tanker. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for this action on 15 December 1942.’

Serving in Malta until October 1942, in December 1942 he joined 786 Squadron Fleet Air Arm at H.M.S. Jackdraw, serving there until December 1943. He was invested with his D.S.C. at Buckingham Palace on 16 February 1943. From December 1943, he served with 855 Squadron, operating from H.M.S. Daedalus at Gosport, where he was involved in missions over the English Channel and the North Sea in preparation of the D-Day invasion. He was later attached to R.A.F. Coastal Command at R.A.F. Thorney Island.

On 4 September 1944 Lieutenant Scott, Lieutenant C. H. Jeffery, and Petty Officer G. A. S. Stephenson took off in Grumman Avenger Mk II, JZ490, on an anti shipping patrol off the enemy coast between IJmuiden in Holland & Gravelines in northern France. They failed to return to Thorney Island after attacking three destroyers. Lieutenant Scott’s body later washed ashore in the Netherlands. The other two crew members were never found. He is buried in Castricum Protestant Churchyard.

Sold with original R.N. Pilot wings and original Imperial War Graves Commission application for War Dead Roll of Honour, named to Scott, dated 4 September 1944, and registration of ‘North Holland & Utrecht’.