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Auction: 8010 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 118

A Well Documented Second World War D.S.C. Group of Four to Lieutenant-Commander J.T. Ridd, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Who Was Twice Mentioned in Despatches, Including For His Services in Operation Neptune, During Which He Commanded 115th Minesweeping Flotilla, Which Provided a Screen for the Bombardment Force Prior to the Assault Landings, 6.6.1944 a) Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ´1944´, and engraved ´John Tatton Ridd´ (Hallmarks for London 1943), in Garrard & Co. Ltd. case of issue b) 1939-1945 Star c) Atlantic Star, with France and Germany Bar d) War Medal, M.I.D. Oakleaf, very fine, campaign medals mounted as originally worn, with (5) associated miniature awards, riband bars, (10) Naval buttons, by Gaunt, (3) metal insignia for the Loyal Suffolk Hussars, British Legion badge, reverse numbered ´41361´, Bugatti Owners Club Medal, bronze, reverse neatly engraved ´Afternoon Trial 22nd October 1932 J. Tatton Ridd.´, with bronze top riband bar, in original case; racing club badge, Cigarette Case, silver (Hallmarks for Birmingham 1941), together with ´A.C.C.´ gilt medal for Distinguished Service, with Five Years bar, reverse engraved ´H. Foster 1927´, with the following original related documents: - Two M.I.D. Certificates dated 1.1.1941 and 14.11.1944, both in original postal envelopes addressed to the recipient - A number of documents, pencil sketches and sailing orders relating to Operation Neptune, including Ridd´s typed report, covering the period 6th June - 30th June 1944, as Senior Officer of the 115th M/S Flotilla, the majority of the documents marked ´Top Secret´; a hand written note entitled ´Afterthought´, which says ´Probably one the most complicated, illegal and enjoyable minesweeping operations ever undertaken´, signed ´J.T.R.´ - Ten Naval Messages, nine in conjunction with the award of Ridd´s D.S.C., one dated 5.6.1944 from Ridd on the eve of Operation Neptune to ´The Ship´s Company - within a few hours it will be the "Day" - "D" Day. All I ask of you is that your discipline and behaviour shall be as always in the past. Given that we cannot fail to give a good account of ourselves during this important operation. Good luck to you all.´ - Memorandum from Rear Admiral W.R. Patterson titled ´Operation "Overlord" - Honours and Awards´, dated 1.6.1944 - Letter from Sub-Lieutenant J.M.C. Easton, G.C. (later Godfather to Ridd´s daughter), dated 9.6.1944, written from M.M.S. 22, ´My Dear John, I do not think that you will contradict me when I say that the 115th Flotilla has tonight completed its most hazardous journey - and with complete success. In my opinion all of us, officers and men, should be, and I feel are, heartily appreciative of your very great and competent leadership. It gives me great confidence to follow astern of M.M.S. 29.´ - Admiralty letter informing recipient of the award of his D.S.C., dated 1.1.1944; Two invitations, named to the recipient, to investitures at Buckingham Palace, dated 18.7.1944 and 12.12.1944; Government Railway Passenger Warrant named to recipient for the purpose of attending the latter investiture; cover note to Ridd´s Commanding Officer, which was sent with the invitation and the Rail Warrant - Admiralty Letter of Appointment to Ridd for Command as Temporary Lieutenant of M.M.S. 29, dated 9.6.1941 - Five Certificates of Conduct signed by various Commanding Officers from recipient´s War time postings, dated 9.6.1941, 6.2.1943, 11.7.1944, 25.10.1944 and 29.10.1945 - Recipient´s Watch-Keeping Certificate as a Lieutenant for service in H.M.´s Minesweeping Trawlers, dated 9.2.1914; Ridd´s Service Release Order, dated 24.12.1945; recipient´s application for Campaign Stars and Medals; a quantity of War Time correspondence, two photographs, a newspaper cutting and other ephemera (lot) Estimate £ 1,600-1,800 D.S.C. London Gazette1.1.1944 Temporary Acting Lieutenant-Commander John Tatton Ridd, R.N.V.R. (Henley-on-Thames). ´´For gallantry in the face of the enemy, and for setting an example of wholehearted devotion to duty without which the high tradition of the Royal Navy could not have been upheld.´´ M.I.D. London Gazette 1.1.1941 Lieutenant John Tatton Ridd, R.N.V.R., H.M.T. Resparko M.I.D. London Gazette 14.11.1944 Acting Temporary Lieutenant-Commander John Tatton Ridd, D.S.C., R.N.V.R. ´´For Operation Neptune´´. Lieutenant-Commander John Tatton Ridd, D.S.C., born London; employed as an Assistant Brewer at Brakspears, Henley, and was a keen racing motorist, ´´known in his MGs at Brooklands´´; commissioned Lieutenant Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and posted to H.M.S. Cedar, 10.1.1940; he served in H.M.T. Berberis, Avalanche, Resparko and Luda Lord, April 1940 - June 1941; posted later that month as Acting Temporary Lieutenant Commander to M.M.S. (Motor Minesweeper) 29 in which he was to serve as the Commanding Officer, including as part of Operation Neptune (the assault landing operation of Operation Overlord) as the Senior Officer of 115th M/S Flotilla; his orders for the latter were as follows, ´´to R.V. with Roberts for passage in company to Assault Area. No movements affect your passage till you R.V. with Roberts. Thereafter Assault Groups of Force S will be on a parallel course to Starboard of you.´´ H.M.S. Roberts was a Monitor, which in conjunction with H.M.S. Warspite, Ramilles, Arethusa, Mauritius, Danae, Dragon and Frobisher were part of the Bombardment Force which Ridd´´s Flotilla were to screen from shore battery fire. Ridd´´s report (which encompasses 6th - 30th June 1944), gives further detail, ´´The Flotilla weighed anchor at The Park, Selsey Bill at 1730, 5th June. Ships in company were :- M.M.S. 29 (S.O.), M.M.S. 49 (2nd S.O.), M.M.S.s 22, 139, 06, 55, 205 and 165... The first duty assigned was to screen H.M.S. Roberts on her passage to her Bombardment Area. Rendezvous was made at E.A.3 Buoy at 2045, 5th June. The ships were suitably disposed in columns and course was set to pass down Channel No. 78 to the B.A.A... As the ships were each carrying three Radar balloons, one of which was towed on an Oropesa Float, considerable care had to be excercised in order to prevent entanglement. Even so, it was seen at dawn that not every ship had her full complement of balloons. The disposition of the Radar balloons, under the direction of Commander Dove R.N., began shortly after H.M.S. Roberts and the Second Cruiser Squadron had taken up their bombarding positions, the balloons being anchored as pre-arranged to screen the fleet. From my observations it was obvious that the balloons were having the desired effect in drawing the enemy fire but, despite interference from surface craft and shore batteries and many near misses experienced by most of the 115th M/S Flotilla, only M.M.S. 29 suffered superficial damage as the result of a near miss. The first assignment having been successfully completed, the Flotilla was directed by Captain M/SE to anchor and did so in Juno Area at 1720, 6th June... 15th June - The anchorages Juno, Sword and Gold were swept. There was considerable but unavoidable difficulty on account of H.M. and Merchant ships at anchor... The Flotilla proceeded to minewatching berths and a fairly heavy bombing raid was experienced. M.M.S. 7 suffered a near miss which killed one seaman and damaged the ship to an extent which put her out of operations and rendered conditions arduous the subsequent bad weather.´´ His Commanding Officer Captain G.N. Rawlings R.N., praised Ridd´´s service thus, ´´a very capable and reliable officer, who has a thorough knowledge of Minesweeping and an efficient Senior Officer of a Flotilla of Motor Minesweepers.´´

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£1,600