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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 235

(x) The 1945 D.S.C. group of seven attributed to Lieutenant-Commander J. Moore, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who served with the aircraft carriers Ark Royal and Illustrious

Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated '1945', hallmarks for London 1947; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Burma Star, clasp Pacific; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted as worn, missing one pin-mount suspension, overall good very fine (7)

Provenance:
Bosleys, 1980.

D.S.C. London Gazette 14 June 1945.

John Moore was commissioned Temporary Paymaster Sub Lieutenant with the Royal Navy on 24 March 1943 although the number of stars in his group suggests that he was in service before that point. As a contributor to the book Freedom’s Battle he certainly makes mention of the Ark Royal which suggests service with that vessel. Upon his commission however Moore was posted to the aircraft carrier Illustrious, doubtless being present with her during Operation Avalanche- the Salerno landings in September 1943.

Joining the British 1st Battle Squadron at Ceylon on 30 January 1944 Illustrious was soon engaged in a series of engagements with Japanese forces in Burma and South East Asia. These notably included Operations Cockpit- the carrier borne raid on Sabang, Transom- the raid on Soerabaya and Boomerang- the strike on Northwestern Sumatra. During this time Moore was advanced Lieutenant on 1 June 1944.

Her final tasking of the war came in January 1945 when Illustrious joined the British Pacific Fleet Task Force 57 which was operating alongside the American Fleet closing the distance to Japan. Her Battle honours for this time include Palembang and Okinawa and it was with her that Moore ended the war, being advanced Lieutenant-Commander in January 1946. It is noted on the Navy lists for that month that he was stationed at R.N.A.S. Ford; sold together with copied research including a former auction listing, Navy list extracts and the service history of H.M.S. Illustrious

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

Sold for
£700

Starting price
£600