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Auction: 21002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 211

An impressive post-War C.B., 1945 C.B.E. group of ten awarded to Commodore J. M. Dick, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, a long-served 'Wavy Navy' officer who displayed great bravery and a 'mention' for his work in destroying the Secret papers aboard H.M.S. Attack when she was torpedoed and sunk in December 1917

Dick rose to become Commander by the outbreak of the Second World War, he would surely have been inspired and reminded of former actions against the enemy in the latter conflict - serving at Attack once again - this time the Coastal Forces Base at Portland, before taking up the appointment as A.D.C. to the King, his final decoration coming as Solicitor to the Secretary of State for Scotland

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Civil) Companion’s neck Badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1952, with full neck riband; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 2nd Type, neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with full neck riband; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Mid. J. M. Dick. R.N.V.R.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Decoration, G.VI.R., 1st issue, silver and silver-gilt, the reverse officially dated '1938'; Romania, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, breast Badge with swords, silver-gilt and enamel, last with some enamel chipping, very fine (10)

C.B. London Gazette 1 January 1955.

C.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1945.

Romanian Order of the Crown London Gazette 17 March 1919.

M.I.D. London Gazette 11 December 1918. The recommendation states:

'This Midshipman displays exceptional in the performance of his duties. When serving in H.M.S. Attack displayed exceptional coolness and courage in destroying the Confidential Books and Secret matter when Attack was sinking after she had been torpedoed in the Mediterranean on the 30 December 1917.'

John Mathew Dick was born on 2 August 1899 at Campbeltown, Argyll and was educated at Campbeltown Grammar and the Edinburgh Academy. Dick joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 3 May 1917 and joined H.M.S. Attack by the end of that year. He was aboard her on 27 December 1917, when Attack, with two Imperial Japanese Navy destroyers escorted two transport ships, HMT Aragon and SS Nile, from Malta to Egypt. The convoy weathered a gale and off the Egyptian coast at daybreak on 30 December divided. Nile and the two Japanese destroyers proceeded to Port Said, while Aragon and Attack made for Alexandria. They were in Alexandria Roads, awaiting permission to enter, when at about 1100hrs UC-34 torpedoed Aragon, which rapidly began to sink.

Attack and the armed trawler Points Castle came to the rescue. Attack drew right alongside Aragon to take survivors aboard as quickly as possible, helped by lines cast between the two ships. Aragon went down in about 20 minutes, she suffered a second explosion as the cold seawater reached her hot boilers.

Attack was now crowded with around 400 survivors; some naked, some wounded, many unconscious and dying.

Soon after, a torpedo struck Attack amidships and blew her into two pieces, both of which sank within seven minutes. The explosion ruptured Attack's bunkers, spilling tons of thick, black bunker fuel oil into the sea as she sank. Hundreds of men were in the water, and many of them became covered in oil or overcome by its fumes. It was in these fraught minutes, that Dick showed his true colours, sticking to his duty in order to prevent any sensitive material falling into enemy hands - he survived and was duly awarded a 'mention'. Aragon's surviving lifeboats now ferried hundreds of survivors to the two trawlers and other trawlers came out to assist. Ten seamen from Attack and around 600 from Aragon were killed.

Dick added the Romanian Order of the Crown to his laurels before being demobilised in April 1919, qualifying as a solicitor in 1922. He had remained with the East Scottish Division of the 'Wavy Navy', being promoted Lieutenant on 3 March 1924. Promoted Lieutenant Commander in March 1932, Commander in June 1935, he added the Volunteer Reserve Decoration on 1 November 1938.

During the Second World War, Dick initially went to to the Royal Naval base Claverhouse at Leith, before returning to his old namesake, Attack, the Coastal Forces Base at Portland, from January 1941-February 1942. In June of that year, he was made Naval Assistant to Admiral Commanding the Reserves, being made Commodore 2nd Class in 1943. From 31 October 1943-31 October 1945 he was also made R.N.V.R. Aide-de-Camp to The King, being presented his C.B.E. at Buckingham Palace on 1 May 1945.

Post-War, he was appointed as solicitor to the Secretary of State for Scotland, 1946-65, and solicitor to the Treasury in Scotland 1947-65. He was awarded the C.B. in 1955 and died at Newington on 4 February 1981, being buried in the Grange Cemetery, with issue of a son.

For his miniature dress Medals, please see Lot 334.

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Sold for
£2,200

Starting price
£550