Beschreibung:

An exceptional Second World War 1939-40 mine disposal operations D.S.M. and King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct group of eight awarded to Able Seaman S. C. Keen, Royal Navy, who served from the outbreak of hostilities until 1942 as an assistant to Lieutenant-Commander R. B. Edwards, D.S.O., one of the “greats” to emerge from the highly hazardous world of mine disposal: they were the first to render safe Z and U type mines Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (J.36458 S. C. Keen. A.B. H.M.S. Watchful.) impressed naming; 1914-15 Star (J.36458 S. C. Keen. Ord. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.36458 S. C. Keen. A.B. R.N.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-39 (C/J.36458 S. C. Keen. A.B. R.N.); Defence and War Medals, with bronze commendation oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (J.36458 S. C. Keen. A.B. H.M.S. Royal Oak) the Great War and L.S. & G.C. medals mounted as worn, these rather polished, therefore good fine, the remainder extremely fine (8) £4000-5000 Footnote D.S.M. London Gazette 24 April 1940: ‘For courage and skill in securing and stripping live enemy mines, without regard for his own safety.’ In relation to the awards of the D.S.O. to Lieutenant-Commander R. B. Edwards and of the D.S.M. to Chief Petty Officers E. G. Spriggs and Able Seamen S. C. Keen and D. W. Wilson, the recommendation (dated 29 December 1939) states: ‘Lieutenant-Commander Edwards is in charge of the Render Mines Safe Unit of the Nore Command and has rendered gallant service in that capacity, particularly during the period when mines were first washed ashore along this coast. The rendering safe of these mines, which were of several different types, was considered to be most dangerous work.’ ‘The four Ratings mentioned (the fourth Rating was from Chatham Barracks and unrelated to these particular operations) have all rendered equally gallant and dangerous services under similar conditions and it is therefore impossible to suggest any order of merit in which they should be recommended.’ Further testimony was submitted in February 1940 from Lieutenant-Commander Edwards to Naval Officer-in-Charge, H.M.S. Watchful, Great Yarmouth, in respect of Keen and Wilson: ‘I have the honour to report that yesterday, Thursday 8th February, Able Seaman Keen and Able Seaman Wilson displayed great coolness and devotion to duty in the face of great risk. The circumstances were as follows:- At 1.50 p.m. on completion of counter-mining three Brequet mines near Orfordness, a message was received that a mine was ashore in a dangerous position near Clacton. On arrival, I found a British H.2 mine suspended by its mooring rope from a gantry. The M.R. had a complete turn around the gantry rails, and had jammed itself by the bulldog grips. The mine was partially waterborne. I commandeered a skiff and went out to the mine with a tool kit, to find the mooring spindle moving gently in and out due to the action of a slight sea. One lower horn was bent, and one broken. The tide was falling rapidly, and it appeared that if the mine fell another inch, the M.S. cross head switch would be made and the mine might fire. A steel safety pin was inserted as the mine rose on the swell, and the M.R. was then disentangled and the mine towed ashore and rendered safe. Earlier a mine [which] had become entangled in Clacton pier, exploded with considerable damage to the pier.’ From the Naval Officer-in-Charge, Great Yarmouth, to Commander in Chief, The Nore: ‘It is further submitted ... an amplification of Lieut. Commander R. B. Edwards’ Report as follows:- On approaching the mine in a heavy skiff, the mooring rope was seen to be taking a large proportion of the weight of the mine and two lower horns damaged. The two ratings referred to fended the boat off the mine and immediately attempted to lift the mine by the horn bosses to relieve the strain on the mooring spindle which was moving gently in and outwith the action of a slight sea. Although a heavier