155
A rare Second World War Battle of Crete D.S.M. group of nine awarded to Chief Petty Officer
Description
A rare Second World War Battle of Crete D.S.M. group of nine awarded to Chief Petty Officer Steward N. A. Coombes, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallantry in the destroyer H.M.S. Kingston
Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (P/L 11127 N. A. Coombes, P.O. Std., H.M.S. Kingston); British War and Victory Medals (L. 11127 N. A. Coombes, B. Svt., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue (L. 11127 N. A. Coombes, L. Std., H.M.S. Vernon), the Great War and L.S. & G.C. awards with contact marks, nearly very fine, the remainder good very fine (9) £1700-1900
---
D.S.M. London Gazette 6 January 1942:
‘For outstanding gallantry, fortitude and resolution during the Battle of Crete.’
Norman Arthur Coombes was born in Southampton on 15 April 1902 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Servant on 21 May 1918, aged 16. He served aboard Maidstone, a depot ship for submarines at Harwich, in the closing months of World War I. He was still serving aboard her when he reached the age of 18; he was then rated Officers’ Servant 3rd Class and engaged for 12 years.
Coombes left Maidstone in May 1922 and was then appointed to Lucia, another submarine depot ship, in the Mediterranean. This was followed by a period ashore near his home town; Victory II (1923-24) and Excellent (1924-28). In July 1928 he was appointed to Victory XI, the Portland Naval Depot, and served aboard the River class destroyer Doon.
In May 1935, when his L.S. & G.C. Medal was awarded, Coombes was serving in Vernon, the torpedo school at Portsmouth, and had been rated Leading Steward.
H.M.S. Kingston - early operations - two U-Boat ‘kills’ - Red Sea Force
By the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939, Coombes was serving in the recently completed Kingston, a Kelly class destroyer of 1710 tons built by J. Samuel White & Co. of Cowes. Armed with six 4.7 inch guns and ten torpedo tubes, she had a speed of 36 knots and a complement of 183 officers and ratings.
He was consequently present in the action leading to the destruction of the U-35 off the Shetland Isles on 29 November 1939, when, unusually, all the crew of the U-Boat were saved; so, too, in her subsequent operations in the 14th Destroyer Flotilla, as part of the Red Sea Force.
During this latter period of operations she participated in the destruction of the Italian submarine Evangelista Torricella off Perham in the Red Sea on 22 June 1940, as well as delivering another attack on another Italian submarine, the Perla, five days later. Then in March 1941 the Kingston took part in the re-capture of Berbera, the capital of British Somaliland, which had been in enemy hands for seven months. She was part of Force G in April, which established an advanced base at Mersa Kuba in the Eritrean campaign. This greatly facilitated the occupation of Massawa, which virtually completed the conquest of Eritrea.
Greece and Crete
In April, when British forces had to be evacuated from Greece, the Kingston, serving with the Mediterranean fleet, was one of four destroyers which embarked troops from Kalamata. A German column broke into the town while the evacuation was in progress and, in the confusion, most of the Allied troops were left behind.
On 20 May the Germans invaded Crete; after a heavy bombing raid, soldiers landed by parachute and glider. On the night of 21-22 May the Germans attempted to reinforce them by sea; British warships intercepted one troop convoy about 20 miles to the north of Canea and sank most of the ships, forcing the others to turn back. Kingston, in company with her sister-ship Kandahar and the cruisers Gloucester and Fiji, patrolled the Aegean to the west of Crete but did not encounter any enemy ships.
On the mo...
-----
This lot description has been truncated. Please see the Dix Noonan Webb website for the full lot description.
Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (P/L 11127 N. A. Coombes, P.O. Std., H.M.S. Kingston); British War and Victory Medals (L. 11127 N. A. Coombes, B. Svt., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue (L. 11127 N. A. Coombes, L. Std., H.M.S. Vernon), the Great War and L.S. & G.C. awards with contact marks, nearly very fine, the remainder good very fine (9) £1700-1900
---
D.S.M. London Gazette 6 January 1942:
‘For outstanding gallantry, fortitude and resolution during the Battle of Crete.’
Norman Arthur Coombes was born in Southampton on 15 April 1902 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Servant on 21 May 1918, aged 16. He served aboard Maidstone, a depot ship for submarines at Harwich, in the closing months of World War I. He was still serving aboard her when he reached the age of 18; he was then rated Officers’ Servant 3rd Class and engaged for 12 years.
Coombes left Maidstone in May 1922 and was then appointed to Lucia, another submarine depot ship, in the Mediterranean. This was followed by a period ashore near his home town; Victory II (1923-24) and Excellent (1924-28). In July 1928 he was appointed to Victory XI, the Portland Naval Depot, and served aboard the River class destroyer Doon.
In May 1935, when his L.S. & G.C. Medal was awarded, Coombes was serving in Vernon, the torpedo school at Portsmouth, and had been rated Leading Steward.
H.M.S. Kingston - early operations - two U-Boat ‘kills’ - Red Sea Force
By the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939, Coombes was serving in the recently completed Kingston, a Kelly class destroyer of 1710 tons built by J. Samuel White & Co. of Cowes. Armed with six 4.7 inch guns and ten torpedo tubes, she had a speed of 36 knots and a complement of 183 officers and ratings.
He was consequently present in the action leading to the destruction of the U-35 off the Shetland Isles on 29 November 1939, when, unusually, all the crew of the U-Boat were saved; so, too, in her subsequent operations in the 14th Destroyer Flotilla, as part of the Red Sea Force.
During this latter period of operations she participated in the destruction of the Italian submarine Evangelista Torricella off Perham in the Red Sea on 22 June 1940, as well as delivering another attack on another Italian submarine, the Perla, five days later. Then in March 1941 the Kingston took part in the re-capture of Berbera, the capital of British Somaliland, which had been in enemy hands for seven months. She was part of Force G in April, which established an advanced base at Mersa Kuba in the Eritrean campaign. This greatly facilitated the occupation of Massawa, which virtually completed the conquest of Eritrea.
Greece and Crete
In April, when British forces had to be evacuated from Greece, the Kingston, serving with the Mediterranean fleet, was one of four destroyers which embarked troops from Kalamata. A German column broke into the town while the evacuation was in progress and, in the confusion, most of the Allied troops were left behind.
On 20 May the Germans invaded Crete; after a heavy bombing raid, soldiers landed by parachute and glider. On the night of 21-22 May the Germans attempted to reinforce them by sea; British warships intercepted one troop convoy about 20 miles to the north of Canea and sank most of the ships, forcing the others to turn back. Kingston, in company with her sister-ship Kandahar and the cruisers Gloucester and Fiji, patrolled the Aegean to the west of Crete but did not encounter any enemy ships.
On the mo...
-----
This lot description has been truncated. Please see the Dix Noonan Webb website for the full lot description.
Auction Details
Shipping
T&Cs & Important Info
Ask seller a question
A rare Second World War Battle of Crete D.S.M. group of nine awarded to Chief Petty Officer Steward N. A. Coombes, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallantry in the destroyer H.M.S. Kingston
Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (P/L 11127 N. A. Coombes, P.O. Std., H.M.S. Kingston); British War and Victory Medals (L. 11127 N. A. Coombes, B. Svt., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue (L. 11127 N. A. Coombes, L. Std., H.M.S. Vernon), the Great War and L.S. & G.C. awards with contact marks, nearly very fine, the remainder good very fine (9) £1700-1900
---
D.S.M. London Gazette 6 January 1942:
‘For outstanding gallantry, fortitude and resolution during the Battle of Crete.’
Norman Arthur Coombes was born in Southampton on 15 April 1902 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Servant on 21 May 1918, aged 16. He served aboard Maidstone, a depot ship for submarines at Harwich, in the closing months of World War I. He was still serving aboard her when he reached the age of 18; he was then rated Officers’ Servant 3rd Class and engaged for 12 years.
Coombes left Maidstone in May 1922 and was then appointed to Lucia, another submarine depot ship, in the Mediterranean. This was followed by a period ashore near his home town; Victory II (1923-24) and Excellent (1924-28). In July 1928 he was appointed to Victory XI, the Portland Naval Depot, and served aboard the River class destroyer Doon.
In May 1935, when his L.S. & G.C. Medal was awarded, Coombes was serving in Vernon, the torpedo school at Portsmouth, and had been rated Leading Steward.
H.M.S. Kingston - early operations - two U-Boat ‘kills’ - Red Sea Force
By the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939, Coombes was serving in the recently completed Kingston, a Kelly class destroyer of 1710 tons built by J. Samuel White & Co. of Cowes. Armed with six 4.7 inch guns and ten torpedo tubes, she had a speed of 36 knots and a complement of 183 officers and ratings.
He was consequently present in the action leading to the destruction of the U-35 off the Shetland Isles on 29 November 1939, when, unusually, all the crew of the U-Boat were saved; so, too, in her subsequent operations in the 14th Destroyer Flotilla, as part of the Red Sea Force.
During this latter period of operations she participated in the destruction of the Italian submarine Evangelista Torricella off Perham in the Red Sea on 22 June 1940, as well as delivering another attack on another Italian submarine, the Perla, five days later. Then in March 1941 the Kingston took part in the re-capture of Berbera, the capital of British Somaliland, which had been in enemy hands for seven months. She was part of Force G in April, which established an advanced base at Mersa Kuba in the Eritrean campaign. This greatly facilitated the occupation of Massawa, which virtually completed the conquest of Eritrea.
Greece and Crete
In April, when British forces had to be evacuated from Greece, the Kingston, serving with the Mediterranean fleet, was one of four destroyers which embarked troops from Kalamata. A German column broke into the town while the evacuation was in progress and, in the confusion, most of the Allied troops were left behind.
On 20 May the Germans invaded Crete; after a heavy bombing raid, soldiers landed by parachute and glider. On the night of 21-22 May the Germans attempted to reinforce them by sea; British warships intercepted one troop convoy about 20 miles to the north of Canea and sank most of the ships, forcing the others to turn back. Kingston, in company with her sister-ship Kandahar and the cruisers Gloucester and Fiji, patrolled the Aegean to the west of Crete but did not encounter any enemy ships.
On the mo...
-----
This lot description has been truncated. Please see the Dix Noonan Webb website for the full lot description.
Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (P/L 11127 N. A. Coombes, P.O. Std., H.M.S. Kingston); British War and Victory Medals (L. 11127 N. A. Coombes, B. Svt., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue (L. 11127 N. A. Coombes, L. Std., H.M.S. Vernon), the Great War and L.S. & G.C. awards with contact marks, nearly very fine, the remainder good very fine (9) £1700-1900
---
D.S.M. London Gazette 6 January 1942:
‘For outstanding gallantry, fortitude and resolution during the Battle of Crete.’
Norman Arthur Coombes was born in Southampton on 15 April 1902 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Servant on 21 May 1918, aged 16. He served aboard Maidstone, a depot ship for submarines at Harwich, in the closing months of World War I. He was still serving aboard her when he reached the age of 18; he was then rated Officers’ Servant 3rd Class and engaged for 12 years.
Coombes left Maidstone in May 1922 and was then appointed to Lucia, another submarine depot ship, in the Mediterranean. This was followed by a period ashore near his home town; Victory II (1923-24) and Excellent (1924-28). In July 1928 he was appointed to Victory XI, the Portland Naval Depot, and served aboard the River class destroyer Doon.
In May 1935, when his L.S. & G.C. Medal was awarded, Coombes was serving in Vernon, the torpedo school at Portsmouth, and had been rated Leading Steward.
H.M.S. Kingston - early operations - two U-Boat ‘kills’ - Red Sea Force
By the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939, Coombes was serving in the recently completed Kingston, a Kelly class destroyer of 1710 tons built by J. Samuel White & Co. of Cowes. Armed with six 4.7 inch guns and ten torpedo tubes, she had a speed of 36 knots and a complement of 183 officers and ratings.
He was consequently present in the action leading to the destruction of the U-35 off the Shetland Isles on 29 November 1939, when, unusually, all the crew of the U-Boat were saved; so, too, in her subsequent operations in the 14th Destroyer Flotilla, as part of the Red Sea Force.
During this latter period of operations she participated in the destruction of the Italian submarine Evangelista Torricella off Perham in the Red Sea on 22 June 1940, as well as delivering another attack on another Italian submarine, the Perla, five days later. Then in March 1941 the Kingston took part in the re-capture of Berbera, the capital of British Somaliland, which had been in enemy hands for seven months. She was part of Force G in April, which established an advanced base at Mersa Kuba in the Eritrean campaign. This greatly facilitated the occupation of Massawa, which virtually completed the conquest of Eritrea.
Greece and Crete
In April, when British forces had to be evacuated from Greece, the Kingston, serving with the Mediterranean fleet, was one of four destroyers which embarked troops from Kalamata. A German column broke into the town while the evacuation was in progress and, in the confusion, most of the Allied troops were left behind.
On 20 May the Germans invaded Crete; after a heavy bombing raid, soldiers landed by parachute and glider. On the night of 21-22 May the Germans attempted to reinforce them by sea; British warships intercepted one troop convoy about 20 miles to the north of Canea and sank most of the ships, forcing the others to turn back. Kingston, in company with her sister-ship Kandahar and the cruisers Gloucester and Fiji, patrolled the Aegean to the west of Crete but did not encounter any enemy ships.
On the mo...
-----
This lot description has been truncated. Please see the Dix Noonan Webb website for the full lot description.
Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Sale Date(s)
Lots: 116-610
Lots: 611-1199
Venue Address
16 Bolton St
London
London
W1J 8BQ
United Kingdom
General delivery information available from the auctioneer
If you are successful in purchasing lot/s being auctioned by us and opt for the item/s to be sent to you, we will use the following methods of shipment:
Within the UK
If you live within the UK, items will be despatched using Royal Mail Special Delivery. This service provides parcel tracking (via the Royal Mail website) and next weekday delivery (betwen 9am and 1pm). Items delivered within the UK are covered by our insurance company. Heavy and bulky lots will be sent by courier, in discussion with the client.
Outside of the UK
If the item/s being sent are worth under £1000 in total they are sent using Royal Mail’s Signed For International service. This ensures the item must be signed for when it is delivered.
If the item/s being sent are valued at over £1000 in total they will be sent using FedEx. This service allows next day delivery to customers in many parts of the US and parcels are fully trackable using the FedEx website.
Shipping Exceptions
Certain lots such as those containing glass or sharp implements, etc., may not be suitable for in-house shipping within or outside of the UK. Please contact Noonans with any queries.
Important Information
Buyers Premium: 20%
Other Information: Please visit www.dnw.co.uk for more information
Viewing times:
Weekdays, Monday 13 April to Wednesday 22 April
Viewing is strictly by appointment only. Appointments MUST be made by telephoning 020 7016 1700 or by email to viewing@dnw.co.uk. Please note that if you do not make a prior appointment during this period, viewing will NOT be possible.
Thursday and Friday, 23 and 24 April, 10.00 to 17.00 Public viewing days. No appointment necessary, but early arrival is advised.
Saturday and Sunday, 25 and 26 April Public viewing at the Paper Money Fair, Valkenburg, Holland (Lots 364-672 only)
Monday 27 April, 09.00 to the end of the Sale Public viewing day. No appointment necessary.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL BUYERS
All lots in DNW auctions are automatically reserved at the bid step which reflects 80% of the lower estimate figure, unless otherwise instructed by the vendor.
All multiple lots (lots containing two or more items) with the exception of designated sets of notes, are sold as viewed and not subject to return. Buyers are recommended to view such lots.
Lots marked ‘x’ in dark blue are subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the EU.
Important Notice Advance Bidding Facility
Please note that our easy-to-use advance bidding facility, which replaces the ‘old-fashioned’ commission bid system, provides all bidders with total control over their bids right up to the point that the lot is offered for sale.
Bids made online cannot be seen by others and do not go live until the actual moment that the lot in question is being offered for sale. All bids can be easily altered or cancelled by the bidder prior to this point. An automated confirmatory email will be sent confirming all bids and alterations.
Anyone with a valid email address can easily register to bid online.
There is no additional charge for online bidding and it is not necessary to pre-register a payment card in order to do so.
It is recommended that all bidders execute their own bids, either prior to the auction by using this facility or live as the auction is taking place.
Whilst we are still happy to execute all bids submitted in writing or by phone, fax or any other method, it should be noted that all bids left with us will be entered at our offices using the same bidding facility to which all our clients now have access. There is, therefore, no better way of ensuring the accuracy of your advance bids than to place them yourself online.
For any support queries please contact: Ian Anderson ian@dnw.co.uk (+44) 20 7016 1751
