Lot 77
Visitors Book of Motor Torpedo Boat 621 Captained by Lieutenant John Arthur Humphrey Whitby
Military Medals, Decorations and Orders On Land, at Sea, in the Air | E114
Auction: 7 September 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
The Unique Visitors Book of Motor Torpedo Boat 621 Captained by Lieutenant John Arthur Humphrey Whitby Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who was awarded the D.S.C. for “devotion to duty during the Normandy landings”. He took part in the famous action of the 3rd and 4th of November 1943 led by Lt Don “Dagger” Bradford DSC an account of the action may be found in 'Dog Boats at War' by Leonard Reynolds, including eye-witness accounts. Very fine (1)
Several units (617 - 630 - 632 - 671 with 621 and 650) deployed from Great Yarmouth to carry out an operation on the Dutch coast; the objective was to land a group of Commandos. However, as they approached the coast, they ran straight into a force of four German torpedo boats ('E‑boats'), which resulted in a short sharp action and damage on both sides before they separated.
The mission was obviously compromised so the landing was aborted but the group decided to carry out an offensive sweep along the Dutch coast. They found what they thought was a small coastal convoy and carried out an attack; it was actually a large naval auxiliary escorted by two armed trawlers and a flak‑ship.
As they closed to attack in line ahead formation, a very close action started between the MTBs and the convoy escorts, with the Germans firing star shell to light up the sky and engaging with tracer and heavy shells. MTB 606 was hit by a heavy-caliber shell which caused casualties and wrecked the steering gear; she careered around in circles, still being hit, before control was regained and she broke off action, but an onboard fire spread, and she had to be abandoned. With 606 out of action, Lieut Cdr. John Whitby in 621 now led the rest of the force to close the enemy, with heavy exchanges of fire at close range. 621 was also hit repeatedly and was forced to withdraw westwards, at which point the MTB force broke off the attack.
The Visitors Book is a fascinating snap-shot of a Boat at War, with over 220 signatures covering the period of the 3rd of November 1943 to the 12th of June 1945. Signatures include: Phillipe de Gaulle, son of Charles de Gaulle the French President; Paul de Cazanove, appointed Commander in Chief for the Atlantic for the French Navy in 1979; Lt Donald “Dagger” Bradford DSC and Bar, and his No1 Sub Lt. Frank “Tubby” Hewitt MTB 617; Pat Conger, United States Navy War Correspondent and later CIA Director; Anthony Law, Commander of the 29th Flotilla and Official Canadian War Artist; Alan Lennox Boyd, Elected MP in 1931 and later served in Winston Churchill’s peacetime Cabinet as Minister for Transport, later becoming 1st Viscount Boy of Merton; Patrick Hollins, an RAF Navigator whose story can be found on the internet at www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/patrick-hollins, who was rescued by MTB 621 when he ditched in the North Sea.
Various Commandoes involved in Operation Tarbrush; Tarbrush was the British overall designation of the numerous small-scale beach reconnaissance operations undertaken along the coast of Normandy and neighbouring regions of German‑occupied northern France by Special Forces' parties to gain last‑minute intelligence of any beaches, and their German defences, on which an Allied landing might be attempted.
Oberleutenant Eberhard Gardiewski and Unteroffizer Fritz Abromeit, a German Messerschmitt 110 Crew who had been scrambled on the 25th of July 1943 to intercept a force of USAAF Fortresses and Liberators that were on an operational flight to bomb Hamburg, Keil and Rostock. One engine stopped, owing to return fire, and the Messerschmitt was ditched at a speed of 200km/hr. Both men were picked up by the patrolling MTB 621. Oberleutenant Eberhard Gardiewski had been credited with shooting down a Halifax Bomber of 78 Squadron near Waddenzee, 4 km east of Texel on the 24th of May 1943 at 03.41.
There are two further entries among the 222 signatures of another German aircraft crew.
Lt Whitby’s DSC it would seem was sold five years ago; the ‘Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard’ carried a report about a sale at The North Cotswold Saleroom, Bourton-on-the-Water, October 2018, which reads:
‘Lot 384 consisted of an Allied Landings (GVIR) Distinguished Service Cross and quasi bar Group of four to MTB Lieutenant Commander John Arthur Humphrey Whitby RNVR, for Gallantry, Skill and Undaunted Devotion to Duty shown during the landing of Allied Forces on the coast of Normandy in June 1944. The medal was dated November 22, 1944 and rose all the way up to £2,700 from a UK collector.’
In 2018, another item relating to Lieutenant Commander Whitby was also auctioned:
“LOT 383
A pair of circa 1943 Kriegsmarine issue 'beh 7x50' Leitz binoculars; captured by Lt‑Commander John Arthur Humphrey Whitby DSC; serial number 467332, in good condition and with rubber armour intact, but without leather shoulder strap and case; provenance: by descent to his nephew.’
Sold with Copy London Gazette entries, three Original Photographs and two Mess Bills.
