Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A poignant Second War Coastal Forces D.S.M. awarded to Ordinary Seaman T. W. Walkinshaw, Royal Navy, an 18-year-old rating who was decorated for his gallantry in M.T.B. 723 in the summer of 1944 but subsequently a victim of the terrible conflagration that engulfed Ostend harbour in February 1945

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (Ord. Smn. T. W. Walkinshaw. C/JX. 579799.) mounted on original investiture pin, toned, extremely fine

Sotheby’s, December 1998.

D.S.M. London Gazette 19 September 1944:

‘For outstanding courage, skill and determination in light coastal craft in successful actions with enemy forces.’


The original recommendation states:

‘For outstanding courage, coolness and devotion to duty in action against strong enemy forces on the nights of 9-10 June and 27-28 June 1944. In the first action this rating at his Oerlikon gun continued to fire with skill and accuracy although wounded in the leg. He refused medical attention until his boat had made a successful withdrawal.’



Thomas William Walkinshaw was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire in July 1926 but his family later settled in Lichfield, where his father was publican of the Angel Inn in Market Street. Young Thomas was briefly employed as an electrician at a Midland aerodrome prior to joining the Royal Navy, aged 16.

Subsequently drafted to Coastal Forces, he was awarded the D.S.M. for gallant deeds enacted in M.T.B. 723 in actions in the Nore area in June 1944, when she was commanded by Lieutenant A. McDougall, D.S.C., R.N.V.R. and formed part of the 58th Flotilla.

The first of those actions took place off Egmond on the night of 9th, when six boats carried out an attack on four enemy armed trawlers and a gun coaster, using newly delivered ‘magnetic pistol’ torpedoes (CCR). One of 723’s consorts was set on fire and sank with a loss of two men. Less than a week later – on the night of the 14th - five boats from the 58th Flotilla were back in action off the Texel, including 723, an enemy coaster being sunk and a large tug heavily damaged.

Following these successful actions, 723 took a direct hit on her bridge during a ferocious fire fight off Ymuiden on the night of 4-5 July. An eye-witness who saw the fatal round find its mark later wrote, ‘a shower of red sparks burst amidships, she reeled, slowed, swung off course but regained station almost at once.’ Her bridge a shambles and her skipper ‘Archie’ McDougall mortally wounded, 723 nonetheless made it back to Lowestoft.

Walkinshaw later transferred to M.T.B. 798, in which he was killed in Ostend on 14 February 1945, when a fire broke out during a refuelling session, causing catastrophic explosions of ordnance and petrol tanks. In what amounted to the greatest disaster to befall Coastal Forces in the entire war, a dozen boats were destroyed with a loss 64 officers and ratings, and a further 65 wounded.

Aged just 18, he was the son of Charles Clarence and Beatrice Maud Walkinshaw, of Lichfield, Staffordshire. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

Sold with full research including copied photographs of the recipient and his crew.