Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 5005 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 551

An ´Immediate´ 8 Flotilla Mediterranean Operations D.S.C. Group of Seven to the First Lieutenant of H.M. Submarine Sahib A.N. Brookes, Made Prisoner of War inside Milazzo Harbour after Sahib received 51 depth charges, later Sergeant Royal Corps of Signals Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., reverse dated ´1945´ (Hallmarks for 1948); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, with North Africa 1942-43 bar; Defence Medal; General Service 1918-62, E.II.R., one clasp, Cyprus (22562532 Sgt. A.N. Brookes. R. Sigs.); Army Long Service & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd obverse type (22562532 W.O. Cl. 2. A.N. Brookes. D.S.C. R.Signals.), very fine or better, mounted as worn (7) Estimate £ 3,500-4,000 D.S.C. London Gazette 21.8.1945 Lieutenant Antony Noel Brookes Royal Navy The Recommendation states ´For outstanding skill and devotion to duty as First Lieutenant of Sahib during 8 patrols in the Mediterranean. In the course of these patrols during the North African campaign Sahib sank 1 German U-boat, 7 supply ships aggregating over 17,500 tons, and damaged 1500 ton supply ship. Of the above, 1 supply ship of 2,500 tons was sunk by torpedo after Sahib had daringly penetrated inside Milazzo Harbour by day, during the course of which action the submarine had to pass over shoal water which caused her bridge and superstructure to be above water. The sinkings took place at a time when the enemy was straining every endeavour to get supplies into North Africa and the successes were achieved in the face of strong air and surface escort, Sahib being subjected to prolonged depth charge attacks on many occasions. H.M.S. Sahib was sunk by depth charges during her 8th War Patrol after a successful attack on an enemy.´ After briefly docking in Malta (April 1943), for routine checks and refuelling, H.M.S. Submarine Sahib commanded by Lieutenant J.H. Brommage D.S.O., D.S.C. and Bar, resumed its mission as part of the 8th Flotilla, patrolling just north of Messina. On 22nd April, off Cape Vatican, Sahib made a gun attack on the Italian tug Valente. The tug was towing a lighter, and as a result of the attack both vessels were driven ashore. Following this moderate success Brooke and the Sahib continued on a South West course towards Milazzo-an area known to be heavily populated by enemy forces. On 24 April they sighted an Italian convoy comprising of the freighter Galiola, escorted by the torpedo boats: Gabbiano, Euterpe and Climene. At 04.50 hours Sahib attacked the Galiola, and hit her with one torpedo. The Galiola, as a result of the direct hit, sunk within minutes. The escort was stung into action with the Gabbiano launching its first depth charge attack (05.30 hours), followed in quick succession by two bombing runs from Ju. 88´s over the area in which Sahib had surfaced. Within seven minutes Sahib had received a total of fifty-one depth charges. Thirty of these had emanated from the Euterpe, blowing the compressor outlet valve clean off Sahib´s side and leaving a 1.5 inch diameter hole in her pressure hull. The damage was quickly deemed irrepairable by Brommage, and the order was given to surface and abandon ship. The Italian escort continued to fire on the stricken vessel until its ultimate fate became apparent. A Ju. 88, however, was not so quick to realise the situation and fired several bursts of machine gun fire at both the submarine and the men struggling in the water. Miraculously, only one man was killed with the rest of the crew being taken prisoner of war. Twenty-three of the crew later went on to make escape attempts from POW camps, twelve of which successfully reaching Allied lines. This marked a very black period in the Mediterranean for the Royal Navy, H.M.S. Sahib being the third of its Submarines to be sunk in seven days (also falling victim was H.M.S. Submarine Splendid, Sahib´s sister ship). Warrant Officer Class II Antony Noel Brookes D.S.C., Sub Lieutenant 1.5.1941, Royal Navy; Lieutenant 1.1.1942; taken prisoner of war 24.4.1943, (number 3254/12), held at Marlag and Milag Nord, Westertimker (Tarnstedt); after the Second World War, Lieutenant Brookes re-enlisted in the ranks of the Royal Corps of Signals. (See front cover illustration)

Sold for
£3,600