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Auction: 17002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 329

'On the destroyer Malcolm the morning had begun on a high note. She was just back from her seventh trip to Dunkirk and was still in one piece. The last of the B.E.F. had been evacuated and everyone assumed that the operation was over. Breakfast in the wardroom was a merry affair.

Lieutenant Mellis fell on his bunk hoping to catch up on his sleep. He was so tired he didn't even take his clothes off. Several hours later he was awakened by the sound of men's feet on the deck overhead. He learned that the crew was assembling for an important announcement by Captain Halsey, who had just returned from Ramsay's headquarters. Halsey came quickly to the point: "The last of the B.E.F. was able to come off because the French took over the perimeter last night. Now the French have asked us to take them off. We can't do anything else, can we?"

No. But it was still a shock. For Mellis, it was the worst moment of the whole show. To enjoy that delicious feeling of relief and relaxation - and then to have it all snatched away - was almost more than he could stand. The ward room had planned a festive evening, and decided to dress festively anyhow. When Malcolm sailed on her eighth trip to Dunkirk at 9-08 p.m. on 3 June, her officers were wearing their bow ties and monkey jackets … '

Walter Lord's The Miracle of Dunkirk, refers.

A fine Second World War Dunkirk D.S.M. group of five awarded to Stoker 1st Class W. S. Grimmitt, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallant deeds in the destroyer H.M.S. Malcolm: one of "Dynamo's" best-known work horses, Malcolm made eight trips to Dunkirk and, under incessant fire, brought away 6,400 troops

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (KX. 90969 W. S. Grimmitt, Sto. 1, H.M.S. Malcolm); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, contact wear and one or two minor edge bruises, generally very fine or better (5)

D.S.M. London Gazette 16 August 1940:

'For good services in the withdrawal of the Allied Armies from the beaches of Dunkirk.'

William Stephen Grimmitt probably served in Malcolm from the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939, in which case he would quickly have been employed on anti-submarine patrols in the Channel and South-West Approaches, where Malcolm operated as flotilla leader to the 16th Destroyer Flotilla. He was certainly a member of her crew by May 1940, in which month she participated in Operation "Ordnance" off the Hook of Holland.

But it was for her outstanding work in Operation "Dynamo" during the period 28 May - 4 June 1940 that the Malcolm won high praise: she undertook no less than eight trips to the beaches and Dunkirk pier, bringing away a total of 6,400 troops. Under incessant attack throughout these gallant forays, Malcolm was much battered by near misses but the behaviour of the whole ship's company was excellent both under fire and throughout the operation, during which they showed great powers of endurance.

Full details of her part in "Dynamo" are recounted in the pages of Divine's Dunkirk and Walter Lord's The Miracle of Dunkirk. One of Malcolm's most noteworthy exploits was the rescue of soldiers embarked on the Clan MacAllister on 29 May, when she fought off countless attacks by Ju. 88s while passing over fire hoses to help fight the flames on the stricken merchantman - her hold laden with 4-inch ammunition. Malcolm's time off the beaches at La Panne was particularly harrowing, the ship's 'Jimmy the One' having to draw his revolver and threaten the next man who tried to rush the ship's boat. On a lighter note, another of Malcolm's officers played the bagpipes on the ship's foc'sle as some Cameron Highlanders were embarked.

Her final trip was made on the night of the 3-4 June to embark part of the French rear-guard which had been holding the Dunkirk perimeter. This the occasion, as cited above, that her officers sallied forth wearing their bow ties and monkey jackets. Malcolm's skipper, Captain T. E. Halsey, R.N., was awarded the D.S.O., one of his officers the D.S.C. and eight ratings - including Grimmitt - the D.S.M.; 12 of her complement were mentioned in despatches.

Reference sources:

Divine, A.D., D.S.M., Dunkirk (Faber & Faber, London, 1944).
Lord, Walter, The Miracle of Dunkirk (Allen Lane, London, 1983).


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