Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second War Force ‘K’ ‘Taranto’ D.S.M., post-War ‘Royal Tour’ R.V.M., and Second War ‘Malta operations’ M.I.D. group of ten awarded to Chief Petty Officer B. Hale, Royal Navy, captain of the foremost gun turret of H.M.S. Aurora, for the night action attack on the Duisberg Convoy, the ‘brilliant night action south of Taranto’

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (JX. 132424 B. Hale. P.O. H.M.S. Aurora); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (JX. 132424. B. Hale. A/L.S. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (P/JX. 132424 B. Hale. D.S.M. C.P.O. R.N.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued; Royal Victorian Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, silver, unnamed as issued; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (JX. 132424 B. Hale. C.P.O. H.M.S. Vanguard.) mounted for wear in this order, light contact marks, good very fine and better (10) £2,000-£2,400

D.S.M. London Gazette 24 February 1942:
The D.S.M. award was included in a list of awards to ships of British Force ‘K’: ‘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.’
Hale was later presented with the D.S.M. by the His Majesty the King at Buckingham Palace.

R.V.M. awarded per Admiralty Fleet Order No. 2392 of 1947:
‘In recognition of services in connection with their Majesties visit to the Union of South Africa, Southern Rhodesia and other territories in Africa.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1942.

Brinley Hale was born at Neath, Glamorganshire on 2 October 1912 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. St. Vincent in 1929. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman, H.M.S. Courageous on 2 October 1930 and to Able Seaman on 1 January 1932. He was further advanced to Leading Seaman on 1 May 1937, and to Acting Petty Officer, H.M.S. Hood on 21 April 1938. He was appointed to H.M.S. Aurora as Petty Officer on 9 February 1940, until she was mined off Tripoli, and it was for service in this ship, as part of British Force ‘K’, that he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his gallantry during the ‘brilliant night action south of Taranto’. Following service in H.M.S. Excellent, he was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1946, which was sent to H.M.S. Spartiate. Later in 1946 he was posted to H.M.S. Vanguard and was serving in that ship during the Royal Tour of South Africa, Southern Rhodesia and other territories, for which he received the Royal Victorian Medal in silver. He was invalided from H.M.S. Haslar on 12 March 1952 permanently unfit for naval service and was shore pensioned from H.M.S. Excellent on 3 June 1952.

Sold with copied research and copies of contemporary press cuttings which include a copied photographic image of the recipient and which confirm that he was awarded the D.S.M. for his service as captain of the foremost gun turret in H.M.S. Aurora at Taranto.