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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 356

A rare Second World War D.S.M. group of five awarded to Acting Temporary Petty Officer (A.) D. Cox, Fleet Air Arm

Having won a "mention" for gallant services as a gunner in Swordfish of No. 854 Squadron on offensive patrols off the French and Dutch coasts in the summer of 1944, he was decorated for like services in the unit's Avengers in the Far East in 1945, operating from the carrier Illustrious

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (A./Temp. P.O. Air D. Cox, F.A.A. FX. 86647), officially engraved naming; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France and Germany; Burma Star, clasp, Pacific; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf, generally good very fine (5)

D.S.M. London Gazette 1 May 1945:

'For bravery, skill and devotion to duty whilst serving in H.M. Ships Victorious, Illustrious, Indefatigable, Indomitable and King George V in attacks on enemy oil installations at Palembang, Sumatra.'

The original recommendation states:

'An altogether outstanding Air Gunner whose calmness and resourceful attitude was most evident on both occasions. His skill with the turret when closely engaged by enemy aircraft undoubtedly saved the aircraft from further damage. His cheerful demeanour was an inspiration to the whole crew.'

Derrick Cox, a native of Rushden, Northamptonshire, first gained recognition for gallant services in the Fleet Air Arm when he won a "mention" for services as a Leading Airman in Avengers of No. 854 Squadron (London Gazette 1 January 1945, refers). Operating as part of 157 (G.R.) Wing from R.A.F. Hawkinge, he flew a flurry of offensive patrols off the coasts of France and Holland at the time of the Normandy campaign. Cases in point would be several attacks carried out by Swordfish against E-Boats on the night of 16-17 June 1944. The original joint recommendation states:

'These two naval ratings have displayed courage, skill and cheerful endurance in night attacks on light surface vessels off the French and Dutch coasts during the months of July and August 1944.'

Subsequently advanced to Acting Temporary Petty Officer Airman, Cox and his fellow aircrew joined H.M.S. Illustrious. The carrier departed for the Far East in September 1944 and, in the period leading up to V.J. Day, saw extensive action off Palembang, Okinawa and the Sakishama Islands: it was for his gallantry and good gunnery work during two early strikes on the oil installations at Palembang that Cox was decorated.

Having already seen action in the Indian Ocean, Illustrious and the British Pacific Fleet sailed from Sydney, Australia on 16 January 1945 as part of Operation "Meridian". The aim of the operation was to attack the enemy's oil installations at Palembang, an aim achieved over two much contested strikes enacted in the last week of January 1945. The first of them, flown on the 24th, comprised 12 Avengers and 16 Corsairs from Illustrious, a successful strike in which resultant damage reduced the refinery's output by half. A further strike - against a new oil installation - took place on the 29th, this time with 12 Avengers and 12 Corsairs from Illustrious. The attack, in which Cox played a valuable role in defending his damaged aircraft, was a great success but at cost, for the fleet's fire discipline was poor when it was attacked by seven Japanese bombers shortly after the strike aircraft began landing: the attackers were all shot down, but two shells fired by either Indomitable or the battleship King George V struck Illustrious, killing 12 and wounding 21 men.

Kamikaze

Having undergone repairs, Illustrious - in the company of her consorts Indomitable, Victorious and Indefatigable - joined the American Fifth Fleet, in readiness for Operation "Iceberg", the assault on Okinawa operations. The British role during the operation was to neutralise airfields on the Sakishima Islands, between Okinawa and Formosa, beginning on 26 March; Illustrious's air group now comprised 36 Corsairs, 16 Avengers and two Supermarine Walrus flying boats for rescue work.

From 26 March to 9 April, the Fleet Air Arm attacked the airfields with each two-day period of flying operations followed by two or three days required to replenish fuel, ammunition and other supplies. While the precise details on activities of the carriers' squadrons are not readily available, it is known that the commanding officer of No. 854 Squadron was forced to ditch his Avenger on the morning of 27 March with the loss of both his crewmen; he was ultimately rescued that evening by an American submarine.

On the afternoon of 6 April, four kamikaze aircraft evaded detection and interception and one, a Yokosuka D4Y3 'Judy' dive bomber, attacked Illustrious in a steep dive. The light A.A. guns managed to sever its port wing so that it missed the ship, although its starboard wingtip inflicted damage on the front of the bridge. When the 1,000-kilogram (2,200 lb.) bomb that it was carrying detonated in the water only 50 feet from the side of the carrier, the resulting shock wave badly damaged two Corsairs parked on the deck and severely shook the ship. The initial damage assessment was that little harm had been done, although vibrations had worsened, but this was incorrect as the damage to the hull structure and plating proved to be extensive. Vice Admiral Sir Bernard Rawlings, commander of Task Force 57, ordered the recently arrived Formidable to join the task force to replace Illustrious on 8 April. In the meantime, she continued to conduct operations with the rest of the fleet. On 12 and 13 April, the British carriers switched targets to airfields in northern Formosa. Since the beginning of Operation "Iceberg", Illustrious's aircraft had flown 234 offensive and 209 defensive sorties, claiming at least two aircraft shot down. Her own losses were two Avengers and three Corsairs lost in action and one Avenger and six Corsairs due to non-combat causes.

Owing to the damage inflicted on her by the kamikaze attack, Illustrious had to undergo further repairs and saw no further action, returning to the U.K. via Sydney. Cox and his fellow aircrew in No. 854 Squadron were disembarked at the latter port and some of them may have seen further action in the Pacific before V.J. Day.


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