An important Second World War Far East operations C.G.M. group of five awarded to Stoker Petty

An important Second World War Far East operations C.G.M. group of five awarded to Stoker Petty Officer J. “Spud” Yates, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallantry in the H.M.S. Saumarez in the last great destroyer action of the war - namely the sinking of the Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro in the Malacca Straits in May 1945 - ‘a jewel of an action which was widely taught and demonstrated in Tactical Schools and Staff Colleges for years to come after the war’: the sole survivor of his boiler room - which took a direct hit - Yates continued to carry out vital tasks even though suffering from severe burns and pain
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, G.VI.R. (Sto. P.O. J. Yates, P/KX. 95334); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf, minor contact wear, generally good very fine (5)
£12000-15000
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C.G.M. London Gazette 16 September 1945:
‘For great gallantry and outstanding devotion to duty. No. 1 Boiler Room of H.M.S. Saumarez was hit by an enemy shell. Stoker P.O. Yates, the sole survivor from the boiler room though badly burnt and in great pain at once shut the steam off from the oil fuel pump and heaters, and would not allow himself to be treated for his hurts until he had reported the damage. This most gallant action did much to limit the damage to his ship.’
Jack “Spud” Yates, a native of Oldham, Lancashire, first won Their Lordships’ approbation for gallant deeds as a Leading Stoker in H.M.S. Halcyon on the Arctic run in 1942, for which he gained a mention in despatches (London Gazette 1 January 1943, refers). That period of active employment included P.Q. 17, when Halcyon made for the shelter of Novaya Zemiya prior to carrying out rescue operations.
At which point Yates removed to the destroyer Saumarez remains unknown, but given the fact the Halcyon underwent a major refit at the end of 1942, and that Saumarez was completed in the summer of 1943, the latter date seems a likely point for his transferral. If so, he would have seen further action on the Arctic run and off Normandy, including the sinking of the Scharnhorst in December 1943, when the Saumarez suffered a number of casualties. As stated by Yates, it was this earlier ‘David and Goliath’ encounter that put Saumarez’s crew in good stead come her epic encounter with the heavy Japanese cruiser Haguro in the Malacca Straits in May 1945:
‘I won't say the ship was agog with excitement because by this time most of the crew were hardened war veterans. The majority having been aboard during the Scharnhorst incident.’
Operation “Dukedom”
The Saumarez was ordered to the Far East in January 1945, where she became flotilla leader of the 26th Destroyer Flotilla under Captain (D) Manley Power, C.B.E., D.S.O., R.N. Her consorts comprised the Venus, Verulam, Vigilant and Virago. Here, then, the force that dealt a fatal blow to the mighty Haguro on the night of 15-16 May 1945, a blow occasioned by Operation “Dukedom”, which was mounted on the 10th after reports were received of a Japanese force departing Singapore.
The M.O.D’s War With Japan takes up the story as Power’s flotilla closed the enemy in the early hours of the 16th:
‘The destroyers were closing in to attack when at 0054 the larger echo reversed course abruptly, followed shortly afterwards by the smaller. This led the enemy straight towards the Venus which was cruising at maximum speed to reach her attack position. The Venus, taken at a disadvantage by the enemy's manoeuvre, failed to fire torpedoes, the torpedo firing officer being unable to see the target which passed on an opposite course less than a mile distant. The Haguro turned back to the south-westward to comb the tracks of the torpedoes which she supposed the Venus had fired a...
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