Press Release May 2003

Astounding World Record for a Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)

Spink’s first 2003 sale of Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria attracted a crowd of collectors and trade to their auction room in Bloomsbury, London, and there were many more absentee and telephone bidders unable to attend in person. The sale total was over £700,000.

Among the remarkable prices achieved during some highly competitive bidding was a DSM group of seven to Petty Officer L Frank, awarded as a result of his actions at the wheel of HMS Amethyst during the famous escape down the Yangtse in 1949. The Amethyst came under heavy fire from the Communists during the Chinese Civil War and took several direct hits, despite the fact that she was proceeding up the Yangtse river to relieve HMS Consort as Guardship to the British Embassy in Nanking and had full permission from the Chinese authorities to do so. The Amethyst ran aground because of the damage done by this fire, and only a small working party remained on board to attempt to repair the holes in the ship. It was eventually possible after some days to proceed a few miles up river, but conditions on board became critical and fuel was running low. The only options were to attempt an escape at full speed (to conserve fuel) and rejoin the fleet 140 miles away or to run the Amethyst aground and to blow her up. The decision was made to attempt the former option. The Amethyst came under heavy fire once more during the early part of the journey, but quickly gathered sufficient speed. She eventually was in a position to give the now historic signal ‘Have rejoined the fleet. No damage or casualties. God Save the King.’

Acting Coxwain, Petty Officer Leslie Frank was at the wheel throughout this eight-hour drama during which his skill and courage were prominently displayed. ‘I do not seem,’ he wrote in his diary, ‘to have a very clear recolection of what took place, lots of orders from the Captain and a hell of a lot of gunfire.. but they would have had to blow us out of the water to stop us…’ He was awarded the DSM in November 1949 for oustanding courage and devotion to duty. This group of medals attracted some extrememly competitive bidding and eventually sold for the amazing price of £59,800, a World Record price for a DSM at auction. This is almost double the previous record price for a DSM, which had stood for over ten years and was thought to be unbreakable.

Almost exactly 60 years on from the historic Dambusters raid of the Second World War, one of the highlights of the sale was the DFC DFM group of seven to Bomb Aimer Flight Lieutenant L J Sumpter. Len Sumpter won his DFM for the Dams raid of 16 May 1943, when he was Flight Lieutenant. Dave Shannon's bomb aimer in Lancaster 'L for London', flying with Guy Gibson in the lead group of aircraft whose targets were the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe dams. To her crew the bomber was know as 'L for Leather'.

Shannon's recommendation states: 'F/Lt Shannon was Captain, Flying Officer Walker, Navigator, and Flight Sergeant Sumpter Air Bomber of the Lancaster aircraft detailed to attack the Eder Dam. With great skill and determination they succeeded in dropping their mine in exactly the right position. This was due to the excellent spirit and understanding of the crew. By their efforts they ensured the final breaching of this dam. Flight Lieutenant Shannon and Flying Officer Walker have flown together on many operations, and at all times they have displayed courage of a high order. I strongly recommend that the excellent work of this crew be recognised by the immediate award of the Distinguished Service Order to Flight Lieutenant Shannon and the first Bar to the D.F.C. to Flying Officer Walker, and of the Distinguished Flying Medal to Flight Sergeant Sumpter.'

Shannon made his third run at the Eder, and Sumpter was happy this time with the height, distance and speed, and released the bomb. After bouncing twice the bomb sank against the dam wall. Then followed an enormous spout of water a thousand feet high. About a minute later a gap of nine feet was observed towards the east side of the dam. Gibson signalled back to Group Headquarters the call-sign 'Dinghy', meaning the Eder had been breached, at 1.54 a.m. Sumpter's award was published in the 'famous' London Gazette of 28 May 1943 which also announced the award of Wing Commander Guy Gibson's Victoria Cross together with the other awards to 617 Squadron for the Dams Raid. This item sold for £23,000.

Prices throughout the auction were extremely strong, reflecting the current strength of the market for collectors’ medals. The eventual sale total of £714,863 far exceeded the pre-sale estimate of £440,000.