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Auction: 8016 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 272

The Second World War ´Operation Torch´ D.S.O. and ´Operation Iceberg´ Second Award Bar Attributed to Captain Q.D. Graham., [C.B.E.], Royal Navy Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse of suspension bar officially dated ´1943´; with Second Award Bar, reverse officially dated ´1945´, with integral top riband bar, slight damage to the enamelled leaves, very fine, together with various items relating to the recipient: - Silver napkin ring (Hallmarks for Sheffield 1902, 71g) engraved with the recipient´s Ships and shore based activities from 1908-1945 - Silver pendant (Hallmarks for London 1939) engraved ´Capt Q.D. Graham H.M.S. Arethusa´, the reverse engraved ´M. Graham Crofton Cottage Titchfield´, together with the recipient´s issued identity disc - Visitors book for the H.M.S. Indefatigable 1943-45, including the entry of King George VI, 16.11.1944 - Letter to the recipient from the wife of the Prime Minister of Poland, dated 25.6.1940, together with the recipient´s Polish Cross of Valour - Letter to the recipient from the Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia, dated 11.5.1942, together with the recipient´s Czechoslovakian War Cross - Portrait photograph of the recipient in uniform - Order of Service for the recipient´s funeral, 24.9.1968 (lot) Estimate £ 1,800-2,200 C.B.E. London Gazette 1.1.1943 Captain Quinten [sic] Dick Graham, Royal Navy. D.S.O. London Gazette 4.5.1943 Captain Quintin Dick Graham, C.B.E., Royal Navy ´´For bravery and distinguished services during the operations which led to the landing of the Allied Armies in North Africa´´. D.S.O. Second Award Bar London Gazette 23.10.1945 Captain Quinten [sic] Dick Graham, C.B.E., D.S.O., Royal Navy ´´For gallantry, skill and great devotion to duty whilst serving in H.M. Ships Formidable, Victorious, Indefatigable, Illustrious and Indomitable during the operations performed in collaboration with the United States Pacific Fleet in the capture of Okinawa and Nansei Shoto area, over a period from 26th March, 1945, to 20th April, 1945.´´ The recommendation, dated 3.7.1945, states: ´´Captain Graham´´s ship being hit by a suicide bomber on the flight deck, he had all fires controlled and sufficient repairs executed in such fashion that he was in readiness to recommence operating aircraft within 40 minutes. Notwithstanding the action damage received, Indefatigable, under his leadership, continued to operate her aircraft, until the end of the operation, a total period of two months.´´ M.I.D. London Gazette 23.5.1944 Captain Quintin Dick Graham, C.B.E., D.S.O., Royal Navy. The recommendation, dated 24.9.1943, states: ´´For resolution and skill in command of H.M.S. Unicorn during active and sustained flying operations against the enemy in the course of an assault on the Italian coast in the Gulf of Salerno.´´ Poland, Cross of Valour London Gazette 21.10.1941 Captain Quintin Dick Graham, R.N., H.M.S. Arethusa ´´In recognition of services during the withdrawal of Polish Forces from France in 1940.´´ Czechoslovakia, War Cross London Gazette 15.9.1942 Captain Quinten [sic] Dick Graham, Royal Navy ´´For service in the withdrawal of Czechoslovak troops from France in 1940.´´ Captain Quintin Dick Graham, C.B.E., D.S.O., Midshipman 15.1.1913; Second Lieutenant 30.9.1915; Lieutenant 30.3.1917; Lieutenant Commander 21.12.1930; Captain 30.6.1937, Graham was Captain of the H.M.S. Indefatigable from September 1943 and was in command of his ship during the attacks on Okinawa, Operation Iceberg (the invasion of Okinawa, was part of the attacks on the Nansei Shoto Islands) was deemed necessary to overcome the heavy enemy force defences. On the 26.3.1945 the Attack Groups comprising of twenty-four ships arrived to seize the Kerama Retto. The carrier operations of the 26th and 27th March set the pattern for the whole period during which the British Pacific Fleet was responsible for denying the Japanese the use of the Sakishima Gunto airfields. However, it soon became apparent that in keeping the runways out of action was growing increasingly difficult, as the Japanese were able to fill in the craters (mainly overnight). Nevertheless delaying air attacks by the Japanese enabled the fleet to refill and prepare for attack on mainland Okinawa. At 6am 1.4.1945 all the heavy guns of the bombardment force opened up on the Okinawa defences while hundreds of strike aircrafts rained down their bombs on the same targets. During the attacks on that day the H.M.S. Indefatigable like many other Ships was hit by a suicide kamikaze pilot, her armoured flight deck, however, saved her from serious damage and under command of Captain Graham she was able to operate aircrafts again (aircrafts on board consisted of 40 Seafires, 14 Avengers, 9 Fireflies), sporadic attacks continued during the next four days, generally at dawn and dusk.

Sold for
£1,950