Beschreibung:

A fine Second World War ‘Sinking of the Scharnhorst’ D.S.C. and 1940 M.I.D. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant W. M. Livingston, Royal Navy, who, as Acting Engineer Officer aboard H.M.S. Savage, ‘enabled a successful torpedo attach to be carried out on the Scharnhorst’ Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., reverse hallmarked London 1943, officially dated 1944 and additionally inscribed ‘Lieut. (E) W. Mc. C. Livingston’; British War and Victory Medals (M.3840 W. M. Livingston. E.R.A.4 R.N.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (W. Mc. C. Livingston. Warrant Engr. R.N.) small official correction to last letter of surname; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted as worn, very fine and better (8) £2,000-£2,600 A fine Second World War ‘Sinking of the Scharnhorst’ D.S.C. and 1940 M.I.D. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant W. M. Livingston, Royal Navy, who, as Acting Engineer Officer aboard H.M.S. Savage, ‘enabled a successful torpedo attach to be carried out on the Scharnhorst’ Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., reverse hallmarked London 1943, officially dated 1944 and additionally inscribed ‘Lieut. (E) W. Mc. C. Livingston’; British War and Victory Medals (M.3840 W. M. Livingston. E.R.A.4 R.N.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (W. Mc. C. Livingston. Warrant Engr. R.N.) small official correction to last letter of surname; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted as worn, very fine and better (8) £2,000-£2,600 D.S.C. London Gazette 7 March 1944: ‘For gallantry, distinguished service and devotion to duty on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, and in H.M. Ships... Jamaica... during the action in which the Scharnhorst was engaged and sunk.’ The original recommendation states: ‘As [Acting] Engineer Officer of the ship displayed coolness and determination during a prolonged period at full power which finally enabled a successful torpedo attack to be carried out on the Scharnhorst.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 4 October 1940: ‘For gallantry and determination in repelling enemy air attacks.’ The destruction of the Scharnhorst on 26 December 1943, was an important development for the Allies as the Home Fleet was then able to relax its vigilance in northern waters without threat to Arctic Convoys from German capital ships. Of Scharnhorst’s compliment totalling 1,970 officers and men, only 36 were rescued by the Royal Navy. Admiral Fraser, in H.M.S. Duke of York, made contact with the Scharnhorst at 4.15 p.m., by which time darkness had closed in. Shortly afterwards the 14-inch guns of the Duke of York obtained a hit below the water-line and the Scharnhorst turned away to the northward and then eastward with a slight diminution in speed. While Duke of York and Jamaica took up the chase, the destroyers Savage, Saumarez, Scorpion and Stord crept up on the Scharnhorst’s quarters to make a torpedo attack. Sheffield was now joining in the hunt at 23 knots; Musketeer, Matchless, Opportune and Virago were also working round for a strike with their torpedoes. Duke of York scored hits with her first and third salvoes but Scharnhorst was still giving a good account of herself. Time and again, her shells straddled Duke of York. However, despite the damage caused by Duke of York’s guns, Scharnhorst seemed to be increasing her speed and the range was being stretched. At 17.30, none of the cruisers were still firing; at 18.20, Scharnhorst herself ceased fire, and Duke of York stopped at 18.24. The range was now 21,400 yards. ‘It still seemed possible to Fraser that Scharnhorst might escape. Everything depended on those four ‘S’ class destroyers - Savage, Saumarez, Scorpion and Stord. Their captains had been ordered to attack with their torpedoes at 17.13, but in these turbulent seas nothing was easy. It was amazing that they were able to ma