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An important Second World War “Operation Pedestal” D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Temporary Sub. Lieutenant Alexander Pilling, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, the gunlayer in command of R.N. Gunners aboard the tanker Ohio - but who had signed on as a deckhand to comply with Board of Trade regulations: the only R.N. rating to receive the D.S.M. for gallant deeds aboard the stricken tanker, he and his fellow D.E.M.S. Gunners expended over 4300 rounds of 20 mm. Oerlikon in a matter of days Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (JX. 185564 A. Pilling, T./A. L. Smn., R.N.), in its case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, together with a set of related miniature dress miniatures, minor official correction to number, good very fine and better (14) £10000-12000 Footnote D.S.M. London Gazette 22 December 1942: ‘For bravery and dauntless resolution in bringing the tanker Ohio to Malta in the face of heavy attacks by day and night from submarines, aircraft and surface forces.’ To which should be added the remarks of Ohio’s Master, Captain Dudley Mason: ‘I cannot speak too highly of the seven Royal Naval Gunners (D.E.M.S. ratings) under Gunlayer Pilling, who accompanied the vessel on this voyage. Following torpedo attack they manned the guns, withstanding practically 48 hours of continuous bombing.’ Alexander Pilling received his D.S.M. at a Buckingham Palace investiture held on 15 May 1945, by which time he had been commissioned as a Temporary Sub. Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. The importance of the “Operation Pedestal” needs no introduction here, Winston Churchill himself requesting regular updates as to the convoy’s progress, but for the record’s sake it is worth registering the bare facts: of the 14 merchantmen that set out, nine were sunk and three damaged, while the senior service’s input of 59 escorts, the largest such force ever assembled in defence of a convoy, sustained losses of an aircraft carrier, a cruiser and a destroyer, as well as having another half a dozen ships damaged. But of all the participating vessels, it was the tanker Ohio that captured the headlines, her survival and vital cargo of fuel allowing Malta to continue her grim defence - in the final 60 hours of her epic voyage, prior to her triumphant entry into Valetta on 15 August 1942, she received no less than seven direct hits and 20 near-misses. Her Master, of course, was awarded the G.C., the citation for which honour makes specific mention of his ship’s gunners: ‘During the passage to Malta of an important convoy Captain Mason’s ship suffered most violent onslaught. She was a focus of attack throughout and was torpedoed early one night. Although gravely damaged, her engines were kept going and the Master made a magnificent passage by hand-steering and without a compass. The ship’s gunners helped to bring down one of the attacking aircraft. The vessel was hit again before morning, but though she did not sink, her engine room was wrecked. She was then towed. The unwieldy condition of the vessel and persistent enemy attacks made progress slow, and it was uncertain whether she would remain afloat. All next day progress somehow continued and the ship reached Malta after a further night at sea. The violence of the enemy could not deter the Master from his purpose. Throughout he showed skill and courage of the highest order and it was due to his determination that, in spite of the most persistent enemy opposition, the vessel, with her valuable cargo, eventually reached Malta and was safely berthed’ (London Gazette 8 September 1942 refers). The Ohio, an oil tanker built for the Texas Oil Company in 1940, first arrived in U.K. waters in June 1942, soon after which she was turned over to a British crew under the auspices of the British Eagle Oil and Shipping Company - for she was already earmarked for the Malta-run. Her new Master was Dudley Mason, in command of