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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 234

(x) 'The assault on Walcheren was made against very heavy opposition, and it was largely due to the gallantry of the support Squadron engaging the enemy batteries at almost suicidal range for four hours that the Assaulting Troops were landed with very few casualties'

(The precis to the recommendation for awards made for Operation Infatuate)

A 'Capture of Walcheren' 1944 D.S.C. group of five attributed to Sub-Lieutenant H. D. Till, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated '1944', contemporarily engraved to the reverse 'D. H. Till. Walcheren. 1944'; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted for wear, slight pitting, very fine (5)

D.S.C. London Gazette 22 December 1944, the original recommendation states:

'For gallantry and determination whilst in command of HM Landing Craft (Tank) 1133 at the assault on Walcheren Island. Conditions for beaching on White Sector were extremely limited owing to the presence of broken concrete, masonry, etc, from the breached dyke and Sub Lieutenant Till being in command of Fleet No 5 in this group was therefore in a less fortunate position than the craft ahead of him, he beached his craft square onto the only position remaining. On touching down one of the embarked vehicles was hit by enemy gun fire and set on fire, approximately 25 Royal Marines and Royal Engineers were wounded, but the remainder of the vehicles were disembarked. Whilst un beaching Sub Lieutenant Till was hit by shell splinters in the right arm and face, becoming temporarily blind in one eye, but despite this he again beached his craft in order to disembark the Royal Marine Chaplain and six Royal Marine other ranks who had remained on board to attend to the wounded.
This officer remained on the bridge of his craft until he had steamed to the sailing area clear of enemy fire. LCT 1133 was later sunk by a mine. Sub Lieutenant Till conducted himself through the action with outstanding courage and devotion to duty in accordance with the highest traditions of the Service and his actions are considered to be specially meritorious in view of the fact that he had been in command for four weeks only and previous to this operation, had never beached any Landing Craft.'

Dennis Henry Till was born at Exeter on 22 December 1924 and was living at 22 Stanwey, Exeter in 1939, then still a schoolboy. Commissioned Sub-Lieutenant on 28 July 1944 he was soon earmarked for service in Operation Infatuate the attack of Walcheren Island. His role in the Operation was to serve as Captain of Landing Craft (Tank) 1133, loaded with tanks and Royal Marines.

The heavily fortified Island of Walcheren was preventing Allied supplies from reaching Antwerp up the Schelt River and as such need to be taken. Attempts by air had failed and it was the turn of the Royal Marine Commandos to destroy the German gun emplacements on the Island. Matters were made worse for the attacks when foggy conditions made air support impossible.

The attack proved very rough, with a shell hitting a Landing Craft (Tank)- adapted to fire rockets- and setting off its ordnance which fell amongst the attackers. German fire swept the entrance to the beach, targeting landing craft systematically and destroying them. The vessels of the support Squadron pulled in close and drew German fire at close range, allowing to Commandos to land safely.

It was at this stage that Till won his D.S.C., although his vessel was later to be sunk during the night phase of the operation when the already mauled landing craft had to wait offshore and vulnerable to attack. In the event few made it home but some of the sailors, including Till were saved. Remaining in the Royal Navy he was later to be advanced Lieutenant on 28 July 1946; sold together with copied research including census data, London Gazette entries and a recommendation for award as well as an article on Operation Infatuate by Petty Officer Basil Woolf, an eyewitness and an article in the Exeter & Plymouth Gazette.

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

Sold for
£950

Starting price
£600