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Auction: 21002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 209

A classic Second World War Coastal Forces D.S.M. group of five awarded to Acting Chief Motor Mechanic P. Dundas, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his services in M.T.B. 208 in a series Channel actions

In fact, in the period May-August 1944, under the command of the eagle-eyed Lieutenant Peter Liddell, R.N.V.R., 'who invariably saw the enemy first', 208 accounted for at least two enemy ships

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (A/C.M.M. P. Dundas. P/MX. 79030), officially engraved naming, on original pin and in its case of issue; 1939-45 Star; France & Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, in their card box of issue addressed to 'Mr. P. Dundas, D.S.M., 20 Stokesby Grove, High Heaton, Newcastle-on-Tyne 7', nearly extremely fine (5)

D.S.M. London Gazette 21 November 1944. The original recommendation states:

'Since this rating joined the boat 3 1/2 months ago his work has been magnificent; as a result the boat has been able to carry out some 30 more patrols than any other in the Flotilla and has never had an engine breakdown necessitating a return from sea or abandonment of patrol. During this time he has been in seven actions in which six enemy ships have been sunk, three of them by his own boat, and his coolness and efficiency under fire have been most creditable. He has at all time been unsparing of himself in his efforts to ensure that his boat is as mechanically perfect as possible before proceeding to sea, and has been an inspiration to the remainder of the flotilla.'

Philip Dundas was decorated for his services as M.T.B. 208's Chief Motor Mechanic in a series of Channel actions, most notably in support of Operation "Neptune" in August 1944, when 208 formed part of the 13th M.T.B. Flotilla under Lieutenant-Commander M. Arnold-Forster, D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N.V.R.

First 'kill'

However, 208 was also involved in a notable action on the night of 23-24 May 1944, as neatly summarised in Home Waters MTBs & MGBs at War 1939-45, by Leonard Reynolds:

'Mark Arnold-Forster had with him 209 (Lt. J. Y. Ferguson) and 208 (Lt. P. Liddell), while David Shaw had 246 (Sub. Lt. C. D. Cobb) and 247 (Sub. Lt. I Brett). They had been escorting minelaying MLs when they were vectored to attack a patrol of five Torpedo Boats and three minesweepers, all heavily armed. Aircraft were to make a coordinated attack. Fortune was with 208 and 209 who found themselves in a position to make an unobserved approach and fire a spread of torpedoes, whereas 246 and 247 received such a barrage that they had to withdraw rapidly. 208 hit and sank one Torpedo Boat, but 209's torpedoes did not run true.'

Second 'kill'

As stated, 208 was next actively engaged in support of Operation "Neptune" and, on the night of 18-19 August 1944, she gained her second undisputed 'kill'. The action took place off the favoured hunting ground of Cap d'Antifer when, in the company of three of her consorts and H.M.S. Melbreak, 208 engaged M Class minesweepers and their R-Boat escort. Attacking from a range of 600 yards, she torpedoed and sunk the R 218; eighteen survivors were picked up.

Further success off Cap d'Antifer

A few nights later, on the 23rd, 208 was again in action off Cap d'Antifer, Arnold-Forster leading the flotilla in an inshore attack against a large enemy convoy. He takes up the story in Peter Scott's Battle of the Narrow Seas:

'With the unit in starboard quarter-line we went on at 10 knots for another two minutes before Peter Liddell [Dundas's C.O. in 208], who was Fleet Number Two, said over the radio in a resigned tone of voice that he could see the enemy pretty well on the whole, he didn't know if anyone else could, or indeed whether we were at all interested, but if we were, the enemy was bearing Red thirty. This, I must say, was quite a normal occurrence in the 13th Flotilla. Peter invariably saw the enemy first, whereupon everyone else found to their intense surprise that the whole ocean was covered in hostile shipping and wondered why on earth nobody had noticed them before.

Anyway, on this occasion there were seven or more Type III Tank Landing Craft with pointed bows and built-up gun platforms for their 88s. They seemed to be in two ragged columns, and from where we were they were bunched up in three groups, so we closed for another three minutes before making individual attacks on each group. All boats fired between 0534 and 0538, turned off to port and formed up line ahead.

In view of this same convoy's good shooting when we approached it earlier in the same night, we were agreeably surprised to find them so fast asleep. The scene was so peaceful, in fact, that I was beginning to think that we had missed the lot when Percy Everett's target blew up and disappeared in a most impressive cloud of smoke and red sparks, which tended to confirm our suspicion that the convoy was trying to take ammunition down to Le Havre. There were no more hits, which was disappointing, and by the time the bits and pieces of Percy's target had settled down, our unit was line ahead again. Peter Irvine and his coxswain and I decided that if the enemy hadn't noticed us by now, he never would, and we might as well start smoking again. We returned to the northward at 10 knots for a couple of miles before increasing speed and setting off for home.'

Finally, on the night of the 26th, as the Germans made a last effort to reinforce Le Havre, the 13th Flotilla, in the company of boats from the 14th Flotilla and H.M.S. Middleton, intercepted an enemy convoy off St. Valery: no fewer than six of the convoy's eight vessels were sunk.

Judging by the four Swastikas depicted on 208's 'Jolly Roger' - see illustration - it seems likely Dundas and his shipmates added further 'kills' to their boat's honours on the same occasion. Either way, he was awarded a well-merited D.S.M.

Postscript

Today, one may follow in Dundas's operational footsteps, for 208 is listed on the National Historic Ships' Register and is undergoing restoration at Port Hampton.



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Sold for
£5,200

Starting price
£1100