The extremely rare Second World War Eastern Mediterranean operations 10 July 1942 Distinguished Service Medal for the capture of an enemy submarine and North Atlantic Convoy operations 29 February to 1 March 1944 Royal Humane Society Lifesaving Medal in Bronze for a Successful Act, awarded to Able Seaman later Leading Seaman G.E. Sharratt, D.S.M., Royal Navy. Only a very small number of enemy submarine were captured during the war, and one such event occurred on 10 July 1942 in the Eastern Mediterranean when the corvette Hyacinth, a part of the 10th Corvette Group of the Mediterranean Fleet based in Alexandria, when escorting a convoy from Jaffa to Beirut. The Hyacinth was fired upon with two torpedoes by the Italian submarine Perla, and having turned towards and then combed the tracks, she made three depth charge attacks that forced the submarine to the surface. A further hail of machine gun fire on its decks forced it to surrender. Sharratt was one of 8 men under the command of Lieutenant Jack Arthur Pollar, R.N.V.R., and Sub-Lieutenant John Rowley, R.N.V.R., who formed part of a boarding party that rowed across to the submarine. Rowley was first aboard closely followed by Sharratt, and they forced those members of the Italian crew who had not already taken to the water, back down into it, and then followed them down below. For having boarded and gone below, and for remaining there until the submarine was handed over to the shore authorities and for constantly refusing relief under very trying conditions, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, gazetted to him on 17 November 1942. Sharratt was next serving on convoy protection work in the Nlroth Atlantic aboard the frigate Affleck, when he went on to earn a Royal Humane Society Lifesaving Medal in Bronze for a Successful Act, a very are wartime award for Atlantic Convoy operations. The award is specifically dated for acts between 29 February to 1 March 1944. This was for the rescue of survivors from a sunken merchant ship, and Sharratt, together with Lieutenant William Grant, D.S.C., R.N.V.R., went into the water to rescue survivors. The sea was heavy, and the ship rolled rapidly and savagely, with the rescue ship drifting abeam on to wind and many flotsam. Affleck proceeded to pick up survivors. Sharatt went over the side, and for two hours was in the water, regardless of the danger of being dragged under bilge keels. He saved many lives.’ His award was announced in a Royal Humane Society Committee meeting held on 13 June 1944. Originally from Derby, he latterly lived in Chaddesden, Derbyshire.
Group of 6: Distinguished Service Medal, GVI 1st type bust, with impressed naming; (JX.159716 G.E. SHARRATT. A.B.); 1939-1945 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal; Royal Humane Society Lifesaving Medal in Bronze for a Successful Act, 3rd type; (L/SEAMAN GEORGE E. SHARRETT. R.N. 29TH: FEBY. TO 1ST: MARCH 1944.), complete with original three pronged top ribbon buckle. First five mounted court style for display.
Condition: Good Very Fine.
Together with a copied image of the recipient on war service.
George Ernest Sharratt, surname spelt Sharrett on last, was born on 14 August 1923 in Derby, Derbyshire, the son of Ernest Edward Sharratt and Lily Johns. saw service during the Second World War initially as an Able Seaman (No.JX.159716) in the Royal Navy, and by 1942 was on service aboard the corvette Hyacinth.
Hyacinth served in the Eastern Mediterranean where she protected the Palestine coastline and escorted numerous convoys along it. She also took part in the Malta Convoys. She was a part of the 10th Corvette Group of the Mediterranean Fleet based in Alexandria together with her sister ships Peony and Salvia. Since Hyacinth spent most of her time in the Mediterranean, without access to British shipyards, she was not retrofitted as many of her class were, and so retained her short forecastle. Another of her distinctive features was a 3-inch gun instead of the usual 4-inch.
On 28 September 1941, Hyacinth attacked and sank the Italian submarine Fisalia north-west of the port of Jaffa, at 32º19'N, 34º17'E, just off the beach at Tel Aviv. On 9 July 1942, while escorting a convoy from Jaffa to Beirut Hyacinth attacked, damaged and captured the Italian submarine Perla. The submarine was towed into port, repaired and put into operation with the Hellenic Navy under the name Matrosos (Greek: Ματρώζος) in 1943.
It was for the capture of the Italian submarine Perla on 9 July 1942, that Sharratt, who was a member of the boarding party, he being one of the first two to leap aboard, that then entered the submarine and forced some of the crew back below, was one of five men of the Hyacinth to be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal .
The following report on the action of 9 July 1942 was made by Hyacinth’s commanding officer: ‘Lieutenant John Ivor Jones, Royal Naval Reserve.
At 1730 on 9 July 1942, in approximate position 33 degrees 50 minutes North, 35 degrees 19 minutes East, H.M.S. Hyacinth wax proceeding from Haifa to Beirut, speed 15 knots, zig-zag No.16, when two torpedo tracks were observed approaching from port beam. Course was immediately altered to comb track and contact was gained at a range of 1,000 yards; attack was carried out with a full pattern (“R” setting 150’ and 100’ depth) and oil patches were observed. Contact was regained astern and range was opened to 850 yards; it then became faint so I altered course to stem target. Second attack was then made but only the throwers functioned, there being a jamb in the rails; more oil was observed after the attack and a disturbance was seen which might have been the submarine blowing tanks.
Range was again opened to 800 yards and I went in for the third attack (“A” setting 500’, 350’ and 250’ depth); having delivered this attack an under-water explosion was heard and shortly afterwards the submarine broke surface. i immediately engaged with all armaments and the decks were constantly swept with machine-gun fire to prevent the crew from manning the gun or scuttling. Soon someone appeared waving a white flag but no notice was taken of this until it was apparent that the crew were demoralised - they were abandoning ship.
Fire was ceased and a boat was lowered with a boarding party consisting of Lieutenant J. Pollard, R.N.V.R., (1st Lieutenant); Sub Lieutenant Rowley; 1 Signalman; 1 Maltese Cook (who could speak Italian); 1 S.T.; and 5 other Ratings. In the meantime those of the submarine’s crew who were in the water were picked up, with the exception of a few who were forced back into the submarine by the boarding party; none of the officers abandoned ship.
A few statements were made by prisoners picked up, with the Maltese Steward acting as interpreter. C.B.3074 was observed as far as possible and the prisoners were placed on the focal head under guard. After a survey Lieutenant Pollard reported that he considered submarine would have to be taken in tow and signal for assistance was made. As shore authorities signalled that they were sending out a steaming crew, I delayed the tow to await developments, and in the meantime “Gloxinia” and 2 MTB’s.. also aircraft, had arrived and formed a screen. “Gloxinia’s” boat was lowered and they collected the C.O. of the submarine and brought him on board Hyacinth where he was isolated from his crew.
On arrival later of Commander Brown, it was decided to tow and a 31/2” towing pendant was passed across to the submarine and towing started at approx. 2200; difficulty was encountered as the submarine’s helm was jammed “hard-a-starboard”. However, this was cleared by the boarding party and with “Gloxinia” screening ahead I proceeded to Beirut, where we arrived at 0100 10th (July). The tow was slipped at the entrance to the boom and a Tug took over. Hyacinth the proceeded alongside ”Gloxinia” at North Jetty, where the prisoners were handed over to the military authorities, total number of prisoners landed being 24 Ratings and the C.O. of the submarine.’
On 10 July, Lieutenant J. Ivor Jones made his recommendations for awards to the crew of Hyacinth, and one of those recommended by Sharratt, with the recommendation reading as follows: ‘For courage and devotion to duty in following his superior officer Sub Lieutenant Rowley RNVR, into the submarine, and compelling the prisoners to go below. For remaining there until the submarine was handed over to the shore authorities; he constantly refused relief under very trying conditions.’
This was passed to the Rear Admiral Commanding Destroyers in the Mediterranean, who supported the recommendation on 2 August 1942, and the Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean who concurred on 24 September 1942, then wrote on 11 November 1942 to say that The King had approved the award of the Distinguished Service Order to Lieutenant John Ivor Jones, R.N.R., the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Jack Arthur Pollar, R.N.V.R., and Sub-Lieutenant John Rowley, R.N.V.R., and the Distinguished Service Medal to five men including Sharratt, along with three awards of a Mention in Despatches.
Sharratt’s award of the Distinguished Service Medal was published in the London Gazette for 17 November 1942, ‘For daring, skill and devotion to duty in action against enemy submarines while serving in H.M.S. Hyacinth.’
Sharratt was later advanced to Leading Seaman and posted aboard the frigate Affleck circa late 1943 after Hyacinth was transferred to the Royal Hellenic Navy.
Affleck served exclusively with the 1st Escort Group taking part in operations in the North Atlantic.
On 19 February 1944, together with HMS Bentley, HMS Affleck picked up 54 survivors from the Panamanian merchant Colin which had been torpedoed and sunk the previous day by the German submarine U-859.
On 26 February 1944 Affleck, together with HMS Gore and HMS Gould, sank U-91 by the use of depth charges and then by use of main guns. When the damaged U-boat surfaced and tried to ram HMS Affleck, this action resulted in 36 dead and 16 survivors from U-91's crew.
On 1 March 1944 in the Northern Atlantic north of the Azores, Affleck together with HMS Gore, HMS Gould and HMS Garlies sank U-358 by the use of depth charges, resulting in 50 dead and 1 survivor from the submarine's crew.
It was for his lifesaving acts during the above the incident on 29 February to 1 March 1944 that Sharratt was awarded his Royal Humane Society Lifesaving Medal in Bronze for a Successful Act, a very are wartime award for Atlantic Convoy operations. The award is specifically dated on the rim for acts between 29 February to 1 March 1944.
The Royal Humane Society report states that: ‘Sea was heavy. Ship rolled rapidly and savagely, rescue ship drifting abeam on to wind and any flotsam. Affleck proceeded to pick up survivors. Despite that fact that both ear drums had been burst, Lieutenant Grant went over the side on a rope and succeeded in saving many lives. Leading Seaman Sharatt also went over the side, and for two hours was in the water, regardless of the danger of being dragged under bilge keels. He saved many lives.’
His award of the Royal Humane Society Lifesaving Medal in Bronze for a Successful Act, together with that to Lieutenant William Grant, D.S.C., R.N.V.R., was announced in the Committee meeting on 13 June 1944, Case No.58,165.
Sharratt subsequently married Margaret Jean Hughes in Derby on 19 October 1970, and died in Chaddesden, Derbyshire, on 13 June 2005.
