DSC Lt Cdr R. M. Wilmot, Royal Navy

[Claudio]

Dear forumites,

I'd like to introduce a new entry; a group of 7 attributed to Lt Cdr R. M. Wilmot, Royal Navy. If somebody could share more about Wilmot's career I'd be very grateful.

Description:

• Distinguished Service Cross, G. VI. R, reverse officially dated “1945”, hallmarks for London 1947

• 1939-45 Star

• Atlantic Star

• Africa Star with clasp „North Africa 1942-43“

• Burma Star

• Italy Star

• War Medal, M.I.D. oakleaf

Distinguished Service Cross

Supplement to the London Gazette of 20th November 1945, page 5657

Lieutenant RODERICK MCCLEAN WILMOT, RN (Royal Navy), Louth, Linconshire

For gallantry, skill and outstanding devotion to duty whilst serving in HM Submarines,

• Thrasher http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Thrasher_(N37)

• Seadog http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Seadog_(P216)

• Shalimar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Shalimar_(P242)

• Torbay http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Torbay_(N79)

• Statesman http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Statesman_(P246)

• Trump http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Trump_(P333)

• Tiptoe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Tiptoe_(P332)

• Taciturn http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Taciturn_(P314)

• Sybil http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Sibyl_(P217)

• Subtle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Subtle_(P251)

in numerous successful patrols in raging climatic conditions in the Pacific, frequently carried out in shallow and difficult waters and in the presence of strong opposition.

Seniority

1st May 1940 Midshipman Rodney

1st Dec 1941 Sub-Lieutenant Portsmouh

16th Feb 1943 Lieutenant

15th Feb 1951 Lieutenant-Commander

15th July 1942 Torbay

8th Sept 1946 Dolphin

6th Jan 1949 Forth

6th Oct 1948 Implacable

May 1950 Dolphin

Mar 1951 Tactician in command

5th March 1953 Terror

10th Aug 1953 Osprey

Jan 1956 Dolphin

Jan 1957 Not listed

1985 Still on retired list

[Claudio]

Miniatures:

[censlenov]

I don't have any details about his career to add but will say that is a cracking ww2 Naval combination.

Cheers

Chris

[Mervyn Mitton]

Claudio - a really superb and rare group - anything for Submarines commands a high premium. The name 'Thrasher' rings a bell - I think she sank after the War - Leigh can probably tell us ? The DSC was more sparingly awarded than the MC or DFC - not sure of the exact numbers - however, I am surprised that with such a special group that the Italy Star has not been put in the right place - it should follow the Africa Star. Thankyou for the sight of this group.

[Claudio]

Hi Mervyn!

I was also surprised to notice how few DSC were awarded; according wikipedia "During World War I: 1,983. Since 1945: fewer than 100" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Cross_(United_Kingdom)

Wilmot also served on the HMS Torbay - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Torbay_(N79) - which was commanded by VC and later Rear Admiral Sir Anthony Miers - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Miers -.

Miers appeared to have quite "an explosive character" and was a controversial figure and was involved in two incidents alleged to be war crimes while commanding the HMS Torbay - quotation from Wikipedia :

Miers' first patrol from Alexandria in July 1941 featured two incidents which gave rise to the accusation of war crimes.

On two separate occasions, Miers ordered the machine-gunning of several shipwrecked German soldiers in rafts who had jumped overboard when their vessels were sunk by the Torbay.

These events were witnessed and reported by acting first lieutenant Paul Chapman who reported "everything and everybody was destroyed by one sort of gunfire or another".

Miers also made no attempt to conceal his actions, his patrol log recording: "Submarine cast off, and with the Lewis gun accounted for the soldiers in the rubber raft to prevent them from regaining their ship..."

When informed of Miers' actions, Flag Officer Submarines Admiral Horton wrote to the Admiralty about the possibility of German reprisals: "As far as I am aware, the enemy has not made a habit of firing on personnel in the water or on rafts even when such personnel were members of the fighting services; since the incidents referred to in Torbay's report, he may feel justified in doing so."

The Admiralty then sent a strongly worded letter to Miers advising him not to repeat the practices of his last patrol.

Ciao,

Claudio

[Mervyn Mitton]

Claudio - I think with the D.S.C it's a case of how do you select one person for an award from a whole ship. Obviously individual acts of great bravery are noted and rewarded.

I had never heard this story about the gunning of sailors. Quite disgraceful - we were always outraged when our boats or, survivors were attacked. I suppose it really comes down to - ' those who win a war, censor the reports'.....

[Claudio]

Thank you Mervyn for your comments.

Here I am showing the reverse of the DSC with the engraved year "1945" and the markings (London 1947).

I have only one concern about this group. Wasn't there a rule that just up to 4 WWII campaign stars could be worn?

Ciao,

Claudio

[Mervyn Mitton]

No - 5 is the maximum. Hallmark is for London - makers mark is hard to read - could be Garrards (the Crown Jewellers) or, Spinks.

Edited December 13, 2009 by Mervyn Mitton

[leigh kitchen]

No, it's ok, 5 is the maximum -

Only one of the Atlantic Star or the France and Germany Star or the Air Crew Europe Star could be awarded.

If the recipient qualified for one or both of the other two Stars, this was denoted by clasps worn on the ribbon of the Star which was actually awarded.

The Pacific or the Burma Star could be awarded, but not both.

A clasp was worn on the ribbon of whichever was qualified for first, to denote qualification for the second Star.

No such "problems" with the 1939-45, Africa or Italy Stars though, although originally there was a stipulation that the 1939-45 & the Africa Stars could not both be awarded.

[Claudio]

Thanks for your kind replies... I don't know if this picture is better to see the hallmarks. ;-)

[Mervyn Mitton]

I think it's Garrards - will check my silver book.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Claudio - Yes, Garrards. They and Mappin and Webb are the Crown jewellers.

[Claudio]

Thanks Mervyn! :beer:

[snx]

Lt Cdr Wilmot died on 3 Jan 2011: his funeral took place today at Weston Mill Crematorium, Plymouth.

[Hugh]

Claudio - a really superb and rare group - anything for Submarines commands a high premium. The name 'Thrasher' rings a bell - I think she sank after the War - Leigh can probably tell us ? The DSC was more sparingly awarded than the MC or DFC - not sure of the exact numbers - however, I am surprised that with such a special group that the Italy Star has not been put in the right place - it should follow the Africa Star. Thankyou for the sight of this group.

Mervyn,

Might you be thinking of the USS Thresher, a US nuclear submarine which sank in the '60's or so? Here's the end of the Wikipedia entry for HMS Thrasher (N37).

Far East

Thrasher was assigned to the Far East in the early part of 1945. She sank 20 sailing vessels and four coasters before the end of the war.^[2]

She survived the war and was broken up for scrap at Briton Ferry, Wales on 9 March 1947.

Also, given that this is a naval group, would it not have been possible for him to qualify for the Africa star, then embark on a cruise which gave him entitlement to the Burma Star and then return to the Med where he earned his Italy Star?

Edited January 26, 2011 by Hugh

[Hugh]

And here's part of the Wikipedia entry on Torbay. I'm always a little cautious about Wikipedia. Does anyone have a view on the accuracy of these entries?

[edit] Mediterranean

From there, Torbay operated for the next 12 months, sinking a number of ships, and taking part in several special operations.

In July 1941, on her first patrol from Alexandria, Torbay was involved in two incidents which gave rise to allegations of war crimes. It is alleged that on two occasions after sinking enemy ships, Miers had Torbay's crew fire on troops as they swam in the water. Miers made no attempt to hide his actions and reported it in his official logs. He received a strongly worded reprimand from the Royal Navy following the first incident.

Torbay was involved in attacks on Axis convoys on two occasions. The attack on the first, on 10 June 1941 involved Torbay making three attack runs on an Italian convoy off the Dardanelles. The first attack failed to produce any results; the second attack resulted in a torpedo hit on the Italian tanker Utilitas but the torpedo failed to explode. In the third attack the Italian tanker Giuseppina Ghirardi was torpedoed and sunk. The attack on the second convoy took place on 12 August 1941, west of Benghazi, Libya. Torbay fired on the Italian merchant ships Bosforo and Iseo but missed both. Torbay was heavily depth charged following these attacks.

In November 1941 Torbay was tasked with landing a party of commandos, under Geoffrey Keyes, for the ill-fated Operation Flipper.

On 4 March 1942 in Corfu Harbour, north-western Greece, Torbay, having followed an enemy convoy into the harbour the previous day, fired torpedoes at a destroyer and two 5,000 ton transports, scoring hits on the two supply ships, which almost certainly sank. Torbay then had a very hazardous withdrawal to the open sea, enduring 40 depth-charges. The submarine had been in closely patrolled enemy waters for 17 hours. For this exploit, her commander, Lieutenant Commander Anthony Miers was awarded the Victoria Cross.

[edit] Home Waters

In the summer of 1942 Torbay returned to Britain. She returned to the Mediterranean in February 1943 under the command of Lieutenant (Lt.) Robert Clutterbuck.

[edit] Return to the Mediterranean

Back in the Mediterranean, Torbay carried out a further series of successful patrols. She also had a close encounter with the German Q-ship GA 45. In October 1943 Torbay's periscope was sighted first by GA 45 which dropped depth-charges very close to Torbay. The submarine later surfaced, intending to attack GA 45 with her deck gun but the German vessel opened fire and forced her to break off the action. GA 45 did not drop any further depth-charges (perhaps having run out). Torbay managed to escape damage during this encounter.

As the war in the Mediterranean quieted, Torbay was again reassigned, this time to the Pacific Far East.

[edit] Far East

Arriving in May 1945, and under the command of Lt. C.P. Norman, Torbay continued to cause losses amongst enemy shipping. She sank two Japanese sailing vessels and a coaster, and damaged a second coaster, before the end of the war.

[edit] Post war

After a distinguished wartime career and having survived the war, Torbay was sold on 19 December 1945 and scrapped at Briton Ferry, Wales in March 1947.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Thankyou SNX for telling us about his death. How tragic that his exceptional medal group could not have been on his coffin . Welcome to the Forum.

I think you are right Hugh - I was getting mixed-up with the name. Very interesting report.

[Tim N]

I have a manuscript written by R.M.Willmot and would like to return it to his son.

[Mike W]

Tim,

I am Freddie Wilmot's son.

I am assuminging that you are Derek's son - I met him through my father (At Huntly??) and attended his funeral in Torbay.

I don't have a copy of 'Torbay tales' but do remember growing up reading the war patrol logs that Freddie had, although they were very faded.

He had various items from Torbay which he passed on to the CO of the new Torbay shortly after her commission. He was invited on board on several occassions, even on a trip to Torbay itself.

Cheers.

Mike W