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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 182

(x) A fine Second World War submariner's immediate D.S.M. and immediate Bar group of six awarded to Chief Petty Officer G. Greer, Royal Navy

Thanks to his skills as a lookout, Truculent took out the U-308 off the Faroes in June 1943, evidence of her sub-on-sub success being found in 'quantities of shattered wooden wreckage, sea-boots, watch-coats and loaves of bread'

Having then gained appointment as coxswain of the Rorqual in the warmer climes of the Far East, his coolness and resolution in action were much in demand as he steered her through a number of notable gun actions

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar (SSX. 18918 G. Greer, A./T. P.O.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star, clasp, Pacific; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue (JX. 777874 G. Greer, D.S.M., H.M.S. Thorough), mounted as worn, minor official correction to the last, generally very fine or better (6)

D.S.M. London Gazette 10 August 1943. The original recommendation states:

'For outstanding zeal and efficiency during four patrols in Truculent and during a successful attack on a German U-Boat on 4 June 1943. His example and training contributed to the lookout, the efficiency of which made this encounter possible.'

Second Award Bar to D.S.M. London Gazette 21 August 1945:

'For gallantry and skill whilst serving in H.M. Submarines Tradewind and Rorqual in hazardous patrols in the Far East during the period January to May 1945'. The original recommendation states:

Acting Chief Petty Officer Greer has performed his duties as coxswain keenly and efficiently. He handled the crew well and co-operated conscientiously with the Engine Room personnel. He has set a fine example to the ship's company while on patrol and also when in action against the enemy. Cool, resolute and extremely cheerful under adverse conditions, this rating has contributed to a very great degree to the efficiency and happiness of H.M.S. Rorqual.'

Truculent - sub-on-sub - D.S.M.

George Greer undertook his first war patrol in the Truculent in February 1943, off Norway, during which he would have honed his lookout skills. Those skills were responsible for the sighting of the U-308 during her fourth patrol, north-east of the Faroes at 1420 hours on 4 June 1943. Lieutenant-Commander R. L. Alexander, R.N., Truculent's captain, dived and proceeded to attack, firing six torpedoes with depth settings of eight and 10 feet:

'The second torpedo hit with a vivid flash and a column of black smoke, nearly under the gun. A second hit was heard (4th torpedo) and the target was enveloped in a dense pall of smoke. A third hit reported shortly afterwards was not heard by me … '

On surfacing at 1456 hours, Truculent observed 'quantities of shattered wooden wreckage, sea-boots, watch-coats and loaves of bread,' in addition to a large patch of oil fuel.

There were no survivors.

Rorqual - Far East - Bar to D.S.M.

Greer subsequently transferred to the Far East, where he served as coxswain of the Rorqual in the period January to May 1945. Commanded by Lieutenant J. P. H. Oakley, D.S.C., R.N., and initially operating out of Trincomalee, Rorqual undertook extensive minelaying duties off such locations as the Nicobar and Andaman Islands. But her patrols were otherwise dedicated to more regular duties, in addition to irregular ones, such as her part in clandestine pick-up and drop-off operations in mid-March 1945, namely 'Meridian' and 'Caprice III'. The latter comprised two separate visits to Trega Island to drop off supplies for local resistance groups.

In the same patrol, Rorqual surfaced and sank the schooner Tongkang with gunfire off Sumatra: 'Four of the crew were already paddling to the shore in their canoe and the remainder had jumped overboard by the time the first round of 4" went over.' Later, on the same patrol - on 27 March 1945 - Rorqual twice surfaced and attacked an enemy coastal convoy with gunfire, with impressive results: 'One 500 tons coaster beached and burnt out, one 350 tons coaster burnt out and probably sunk and one 500 tons coaster beached and damaged.'

Having then moved to Fremantle, Australia, Rorqual departed on her fourth Far East war patrol at the end of April 1945, when charged with laying a minefield off Batavia, Java. That task accomplished, she set off in search of fresh prey, claiming a 700-ton coaster with gunfire off the Sunda Strait on 11 May - it was 'heavily laden, armed with machine-guns and flying the Japanese flag.' The destruction of this coaster marked the end of Rorqual's tour of duty in the Far East - throughout which Greer had served as her coxswain - and she departed for the U.K. He was awarded an immediate Bar to his D.S.M.

Sold with the recipient's original invitation and admittance ticket to a Buckingham Palace investiture for his D.S.M. on 14 March 1944, together with forwarding letter for the Bar to his D.S.M., and Admiralty letters of notification for both awards, dated 10 August 1943 and 28 August 1945; also a quantity of copied war patrol reports.

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

Sold for
£3,000

Starting price
£3000