Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Second War ‘Norway V.C. action’ D.S.M. group of five awarded to Seaman C. E. Newman, Royal Naval Reserve, for gallantry aboard H.M. Trawler Arab when subjected to thirty-one air attacks in five days at Namsos; her skipper Lieutenant Richard Been Stannard, R.N.R. was awarded the Victoria Cross, whilst members of her crew received a D.S.O., a C.G.M., and two D.S.M’s

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (C. Newman. Smn. R.N.R.) mounted on original investiture pin; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, these last four unnamed as issued in named card box of issue addressed to ‘Mr C. E. Newman, 31 St James Road, Hastings’, extremely fine (5) £3,000-£4,000

D.S.M. London Gazette 16 August 1940: ‘For bravery and devotion to duty in certain of H.M. Trawlers employed on the coast of Norway - Seaman Charles Newman, R.N.R., H.M.S. Arab.’

The following awards were given to the crew of the Arab, all announced in this same London Gazette:

Victoria Cross - Lieutenant Richard Been Stannard, R.N.R.
Distinguished Service Order - Sub-Lieutenant Ernest Thomas Lees, R.A.N.V.R.
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal - Second Hand David George Spindler, R.N.R.
Distinguished Service Medal - Mr James Nicholson, 2nd Engineer, R.N.R., and Seaman Charles Newman, R.N.R.
M.I.D. - Seaman Charles Hossack, R.N.R..

The citation for Stannard’s V.C. states:

‘For outstanding valour and signal devotion to duty at Namsos. When enemy bombing attacks had set on fire many tons of hand grenades on Namsos wharf, with no shore water supply available, Lieutenant Stannard ran Arab’s bows against the wharf and held her there. Sending all but two of his crew aft, he then endeavoured for two hours to extinguish the fire with hoses from the forecastle. He persisted in this work till the attempt had to be given up as hopeless.

After helping other ships against air attacks, he placed his own damaged vessel under shelter of a cliff, landed his crew and those of two other trawlers, and established an armed camp. Here those off duty could rest while he attacked enemy aircraft which approached by day, and kept anti-submarine watch during the night.

When another trawler near-by was hit and set on fire by a bomb, he, with two others, boarded Arab and moved her 100 yards before the other vessel blew up. Finally, when leaving the fjord, he was attacked by a German bomber which ordered him to steer East or be sunk. He held on his course, reserved his fire till the enemy was within 800 yards, and then brought the aircraft down.

Throughout a period of five days Arab was subjected to 31 bombing attacks and the camp and Lewis gun positions ashore were repeatedly machine-gunned and bombed; yet the defensive position was so well planned that only one man was wounded.

Lieutenant Stannard ultimately brought his damaged ship back to an English port. His continuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy was magnificent, and his enterprise and resource not only caused losses to the Germans but saved his ship and many lives.’

H.M. Trawler Arab, originally a Hull trawler requisitioned by the Navy was sent by the Admiralty, under the command of Lieutenant Richard Been Stannard, as part of the 15th Anti Submarine Striking Force and had the task of sweeping the fjords for enemy submarines and to land supplies at the small fishing port of Namsos. On 28 April 1940, when enemy bombing attacks had set on fire many tons of ammunition and stores on the wharf, Lieutenant Stannard ran Arab’s bows against the wharf and held her there. Sending all but two of his crew aft, he endeavoured for two hours to extinguish the fire with hoses from the forecastle. He persisted in this work till the attempt had to be given up as hopeless. Stannard later received orders to evacuate French troops from a landing stage at 23.59 hours and transfer them to a troop-ship which was completed at 03.30. Following this Arab made for a small bay. In the vicinity were two sister trawlers, H.M.S. Gaul and Aston-Villa. On 1st May Gaul received a direct hit and was sinking, her crew making for the shore. Stannard placed Arab under shelter of a cliff, landed his crew and with those of the other vessels established a camp, where they were frequently attacked. When the trawler Aston Villa was hit Stannard, with two others, boarded Arab and moved her out of danger. On leaving the fjord on 2nd May Arab was attacked by a German Heinkel 115 bomber which ordered them to steer east or be sunk. Stannard held his course and, when the aircraft made her final run in to bomb the trawler, Arab’s Oerlikon gun brought the plane down. Throughout the five day action Arab was subjected to 31 bombing attacks. Lieutenant Stannard then brought Arab back to Scapa arriving on 6th May and on 16th August was awarded the VC, and Newman his DSM.

Charles Edwin Newman was born in Hastings, Sussex, on 25 March 1915. He joined the Navy on 19 March 1940 (Official No. JX.184489) and as Ordinary Seaman joined H.M. Trawler Hazel on 10 April but transferred to HM. Trawler Arab on 21 April 1940. In November 1941, still serving in Arab, he changed branches to become a Stoker 1st Class (new Official No. KX.148617) and continued in Arab until 19 December 1942. He was held on the books of Europa, R.N.P.S. base at Lowestoft, for the remainder of the war, but from June to October 1945 saw service in the Virginia, yacht of 712 tons, at Columbo, Ceylon, Bahrain, Persian Gulf and Bombay.

Sold with the recipient’s Royal Naval Patrol Service sleeve badge (1st type without the integral loops for stitching) with brooch pin; Certificate of Service to Charles Edwin Newman listing his D.S.M. 16. Aug. 1940; Petty Officer’s first class embroidered arm badge; naval cap badge; shoulder board; photo of recipient; “His Majesty’s Minesweepers” booklet, HMSO 1943; “Junior Mirror” newspaper Jan 18th 1956, which introduces a section/feature “Our VC Heroes” of which No. 1 was the V.C. to Richard Stannard and during which Seaman Newman played his part, paper AF; together with copied research.