A Second War anti-U-boat operations D.S.M. group of six awarded to Acting Leading Seaman G....

A Second War anti-U-boat operations D.S.M. group of six awarded to Acting Leading Seaman G. E. B. H. Masters, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his vital role in H.M.S. Blankney at the destruction of the U-131 and U-434 in December 1941 Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (JX.226468 G. E. B. H. Masters. A/L.S.) impressed naming; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted court-style for display, good very fine (6) £800-£1,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- D.S.M. London Gazette 17 March 1942: ‘For skill and enterprise in action against enemy submarines,’ The original recommendation states: ‘As the Ship’s Higher Submarine Detector, Acting Leading Seaman Masters was operating the A./S. set during the actions of 17 and 18 December, which resulted in the sinking of the U-131 and U-434 respectively. On 17 December his operating was excellent and an attack made on a fair contact was most probably that which caused the U-131 to surface, enabling her to be sunk by gunfire. On 18 December his operating was again excellent and his coolness when the gyro-compass broke down and his skill in holding contact in spite of the disturbance caused by 22 depth charges, made it possible to carry out the attack which caused the U-434 to surface and subsequently to sink.’ George Edward Bucc Harvey Masters was awarded an immediate D.S.M. for the above cited deeds in December 1941. At the time Blankney was part of the 12th Escort Group, based at Derry in Northern Ireland, but she was ordered to reinforce Commander ‘Johnny’ Walker’s escorts for the homeward bound convoy HG 76 from Gibraltar. On 17 December 1941, a Martlet from H.M.S. Avenger spotted a surfaced U-boat - the U-131 - and Walker ordered his convoy escorts to make haste to the reported position, Blankney being the first to arrive on the scene and carry out a depth charge attack. That attack was followed up by the Penstemon, with 10 depth charges set at 150-400 feet, and these latter had the desired effect, for at length the U-131 was compelled to surface. Her appearance was greeted by another Marlet from Avenger, which roared in and strafed her but the pilot was fatally wounded by return fire and crashed into the sea. Before long, however, five convoy escorts arrived on the scene and the U-boat skipper ordered his crew to scuttle and abandon ship. He, and 43 of his crew, were subsequently picked up, whilst Blankney recovered the body of the Martlet’s pilot. The very next morning, at about 0900 hours, another surfaced U-boat was spotted and Blankney joined the Stanley in an attack, in her case firing a total of 12 depth charges on a strong sonar contact. Their damaged victim, the U-434, was forced to surface, following which, according to Blankney’s captain, they witnessed a gallant ‘last stand’ made by one of the U-boat’s officers: ‘The submarine’s crew, however, were clear of the conning tower before they could be prevented from emerging, and jumped overboard, except for one officer, who very courageously continued firing the gun. He was the only officer who was not rescued and is believed to have been the First Lieutenant. The U-boat swung stern on and unfortunately I was too late deciding not to ram, but to board, and caught her a glancing blow which damaged Blankney on the port side. It did, however, throw the officer in the U-boat off his aim and his last round went through my ensign instead of through the ship.’ Blankney lowered her whaler with a boarding party but demolition charges had already been set in the stricken U-boat and she blew up and sank, with a loss of four of her crew. The remainder were picked up by Blankney. Masters received his D.S.M. at a Buckingham Palace investiture on 27 October 1942.