A fine Second War siege of Malta D.S.M. group of eight awarded to Sergeant W. J. C....

A fine Second War siege of Malta D.S.M. group of eight awarded to Sergeant W. J. C. Glanville, Royal Marines Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (PO.X. 112 W. J. C. Glanville, Sgt., R.M.) impressed naming; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (PO.X. 112 W. J. C. Glanville, Sgt. R.M.) mounted court-style as worn, extremely fine (8) £800-£1,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Spink, December 1997. D.S.M. London Gazette 8 December 1942: ‘For gallantry and distinguished services in Malta.’ William James Caleb Glanville was most likely decorated for his services in a detachment of Royal Marine gunners under Major Franklin F. Clarke, R.M., which unit was allocated to the Malta’s defences in 1940. Initially equipped with Lewis guns, the detachment manned positions in fort St. Angelo in Valetta, in addition to tours of duty in the dockyard power station and on the Corradino Heights. Following a one-week crash course in early 1941, the detachment was re-equipped with two Bofors 40mm. anti-aircraft guns and began to operate as an independent battery. Usually, it was not possible to estimate the success of individual guns, owing to the numbers firing from the concentrated harbour defences but, in the early hours of 28 February 1941, the R.M. Battery claimed its first definite victim when a Ju. 88 was hit and last seen diving steeply and clearing the breakwater by only a few feet. The last engagement fought by the battery took place on 10 May 1942, soon after which the layout of the anti-aircraft defences around Grand Harbour was modified, and the Marines handed over their guns to the Royal Malta Artillery. During its employment in Malta, the R.M. Battery shot down three enemy aircraft and scored hits on 47 others. In recognition, four Marines were awarded Distinguished Service Medals, and another five were mentioned in despatches. A glimpse of the Marine gunners in action is to be found Ernie Bradford’s Siege: Malta 1940-43, in which one of their number is quoted in respect of the heavy raids on Valetta in early 1942: ‘More than 60 bombs have fallen on the Fort, which is in a very exposed position in the Grand Harbour. The guns’ crews are repeatedly covered with debris and hit by flying rocks and masonry. Nevertheless, the guns’ crews have never ceased to fight the guns … bombs were dropped in and around all the creeks, causing terrific clouds of dust, flying masonry and iron. Although I did not see it myself, it was stated that a motor car went sailing over the top of us. The dust and spray often blinded our view, but the dive bombers always came on … ’ Glanville received his D.S.M. at a Buckingham Palace investiture held on 8 February 1944.