Beschreibung:

A particularly fine Second World War D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer S. J. L. Evans Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallant deeds in Unshaken of the famous “Fighting Tenth”: in addition to sinking an impressive array of enemy shipping, Unshaken several times embarked Major “Apple” Appleyard’s S.A.S. “Small-Scale Raiding Force” and captured the Italian submarine Menotti, Evans’ skipper being handed a unique receipt from his Flotilla C.O. on bringing the latter prize into Grand Harbour Valetta on 11 September 1943 - ‘Received from Lieutenant J. Whitton, R.N., one Italian submarine named Menotti and sixty-one crew’ Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (C.E.R.A. S. J. L. Evans PM/X. 46521); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (MX. 46521 S. J. L. Evans C.E.R.A., H.M.S. Unshaken), mounted as worn, together with a set of related miniature dress medals, the first and last polished, thus generally nearly very fine or better (14) £1800-2200 Footnote D.S.M. London Gazette 18 April 1944: ‘For gallantry, skill and devotion to duty in successful patrols in H.M. submarines.’ The original recommendation states: ‘During 12 Mediterranean patrols Unshaken has sunk by torpedo one destroyer, three merchantmen and two schooners. By gun action, one schooner destroyed, one 4,000-ton merchantman damaged and a suspension bridge on the Tunisian coast shelled. Other incidents include three special operations with military personnel on Pantellaria, the machine-gunning of German troops evacuating from Castia, and enforcing the surrender of the Italian submarine Menotti, deliberately contravening the armistice regulations. For outstanding efficiency and devotion to duty as C.E.R.A. in charge of the Engine Room Department of Unshaken during the above patrols and showing coolness and determination under difficult conditions.’ Samuel Joseph Lindop Evans, a native of Weymouth, Dorset, was decorated for his gallant deeds in Unshaken during successful war patrols in the Mediterranean in the period March to September 1943. The Unshaken arrived at the Fighting Tenth’s base at Lazaretto, Malta in March 1943, in the middle of a “Sprite” alert, intelligence having reported the high risk of an Italian human-torpedo attack, but was quickly out on patrol. The definitive history of the Flotilla, The Fighting Tenth, by John Wingate, D.S.C., takes up the story: ‘Unshaken, being the newcomer, sailed for her first patrol to the ostensibly quieter area east of Tunisia ... First she shelled a schooner hauled up on a beach, but was warned off by spirited action from shore batteries. Then off Sousse on 8 April, Jack Whitton sank the 1,245-ton Foggia with one of his three torpedoes. Lingering off Kelibia in the hope of catching a reported convoy, Unshaken continued southwards to beat up an important road bridge until shore batteries again forced her to desist.’ In common with other submarines of the Fighting Tenth, Unshaken’s operational agenda extended to clandestine operations, Wingate describing a series of intelligence gathering patrols in the lead-up to operations “Husky”, Major J. G. “Apple” Appleyard, D.S.O., M.C.* and fellow members of 2nd S.A.S. being embarked: ‘Then on the 18th [May 1943], Appleyard and his ‘No. 1 Small-Scale Raiding Force’ sailed in Unshaken (Lieutenant Whitton) to make a periscope observation of the island’s beaches where assault troops could be landed. The recce proving satisfactory, on 20 May Unshaken turned for home. Halfway back to Malta she was met by an M.T.B. with an aerial escort which Jack Whitton describes as ‘an impressive and lively umbrella of three Spitfires, each clearing the periscope standards by inches’. The M.T.B. had come to collect Appleyard, to save time. He was safely transferred and soon disappeared with his escort. Unshaken returned to Lazaretto the following day. The second attempt