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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 334

(x) Ten: Lieutenant-Commander R. B. Davidson, Royal Navy, the Senior Engineer aboard the Consort during her famous share in the 'Yangtze Incident'

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Naval General Service 1915-62, 2 clasps, Yangtze 1949, Malaya (Lieut. (E). R. B. Davidson. R.N.); Korea 1950-53 (Lt. Cdr. R. B. Davidson R.N.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, mounted as worn, minor official correction to one character on N.G.S., end of rank through to end of surname, very fine (10)

R. B. Davidson was appointed Acting Sub-Lieutenant on 1 April 1940 and was appointed aboard Maidstone as Lieutenant (Engineer) on 10 December 1943. Davidson was appointed as the senior - and sole - Engineering Lieutenant aboard Consort on 17 July 1948 and served aboard her during the operations on the Yangtze River in 1949. Launched in October 1944, Consort had a complement of 186 and by April 1949 had nine Officers aboard, Davidson included. She made her name during the events of 20 April 1949 in the attempt to reach the stranded Amethyst.

Flying seven White Ensigns and three Union Jacks, she steamed down from Nanking at an incredible 29 knots, coming under heavy fire as she neared her goal. That remarkable speed would have been the result of the determined efforts of Davidson and the men under his charge. Her 4.5-inch guns managed to silence some of the opposition on the north bank, but she remained under fire from a concentrated number of 37mm. anti-tank guns as she attempted to take Amethyst in tow on two separate occasions. When, at length, she was compelled to abandon her mission, she departed the scene with 68 hits and 39 casualties, 10 of them being fatal.

For the medals of Chief Electrician E. A. Austin, who also served aboard Consort in the same action, see Lot 434.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£2,800

Starting price
£900