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Auction: 15002 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 27

A Fine Second War 'Sinking of the Scharnhorst' D.S.M. Group of Four to Leading Seaman R. Nightingale, H.M.S. Sheffield, Royal Navy
a) Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (A/Ldg. Smn. R. Nightingale. P/JX. 223023)
b) 1939-1945 Star
c) Atlantic Star
d) War Medal, generally good very fine, traces of verdigris to Stars, with the following related documents:
- Admiralty Letter informing recipient of the award of his D.S.M. for action in sinking the Scharnhorst, dated 17.3.1944
- Letter of congratulations from Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Burnett, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., dated March 1944
- Portrait photographic image of recipient in uniform; and a comprehensive file of research (lot)

D.S.M. London Gazette 7.3.1944 Acting Leading Seaman Roy Nightingale, P/JX.223023 (Darwen, Lancashire)
'For gallantry, distinguished service and devotion to duty on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, and in H.M. Ships Duke of York, Belfast, Norfolk, Sheffield, Jamaica, Savage, Suamarez, Scorpion, Musketeer, Matchless, Virago and Opportune during the action in which the Scharnhorst was engaged and sunk.'

The Admiralty Letter, dated 17.3.1944, included in the lot, gives: 'For courage, skill and steadfast devotion to duty in H.M.S. Sheffield in the action on 26th December 1943 in which the German Battleship [sic] Scharnhorst was destroyed.'

On the evening of the 25th December 1943 the Scharnhorst was tasked with the destruction of Convoys JW 55B and RA55A. She was to attack and destroy them as they passed the northern tip of Norway.

British Intelligence intercepted these orders and informed Admiralty accordingly. Unknown to the Germans the trap was set.

While Rear-Admiral Burnett in H.M.S. Belfast, in company with the cruisers Norfolk and Sheffield screened the convoys and kept the Scharnhorst in play, Admiral Fraser in the battleship Duke of York (accompanied by the light cruiser Jamaica and four destroyers) would cut her off from the south.

Early on the morning of the 26th December the Scharnhorst encountered Burnett's force. She was twice driven off by the close escort force of cruisers, and was driven at high speed by Belfast and Sheffield towards the bigger guns of Admiral Fraser's force. She was engaged by H.M.S. Duke of York, acting as distant cover for the convoy, was attacked with torpedoes by the destroyers, and was cut off from her base. She was again engaged by the Duke of York, and was finally sunk by the combined efforts of all the ships engaged.

Of Scharnhorst’s compliment totalling 1,970 officers and men, only 36 were rescued by the Royal Navy.

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Estimate
£2,800 to £3,200