Description
Distinguished Service Cross, DSC GVI, officially dated 1943, 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star with France and Germany clasp (an old copy), Africa Star with North Africa 1942-43 Clasp, Burma Star, Italy Star, 1939-45 War Medal, Warrant Engineer Edward Albert May, HMS Abdiel, for the sinking of the ship dropping off the Airborne at Taranto.
DSC officially dated 1943 and hallmarked “G” for 1942 period production by “SG” Sebastian Garrards.
The reverse of the cross has been neatly hand engraved: “E. A. MAY.”
Group swing mounted for wear on old ribbons, the reverse of the bar with sewn on black cloth backing, to match a Naval Officer coat.
Award of the DSC announced in the Supplement to the London Gazette dated 14th December 1943:- “For Courage, Endurance and skill in Minelaying operations.”
Seedies expands on the award noting that it was for his service as Warrant Engineer on HMS Abdiel, for services in the Mine Sinking of the ship at Taranto on 10th September 1943.
Edward was later invested with the medal personally on 12th December 1944.
Account of the sinking from a members of the Paras, here:
https://www.paradata.org.uk/article/sinking-hms-abdiel-september-1943
Edward Albert May, was a Welshman, born on 19th July 1910 in Holyhead, Anglesey.
Baptised in Anglesey on 4th September 1910, son of Leonard and Matilda (Price), his father Leonard, was a Chief Petty Officer in the Coast Guard.
Having gone straight from being a student, he first enlisted into the Royal Navy on 4th January 1926.
Starting off in the engine room as a lowly Engine Room Artificer 5th Class having turned 18 about 1st Jan 1929, he began his climb up the ranks.
Promoted to 4th Class, 1st Jan 1931, HMS Dorsetshire
Promoted to 3rd Class, 1st Jan 1934, HMS Shropshire.
Promoted to 2nd Class, 1st Jan 1938, HMS Ivanhoe, at St Angelo.
On 1st July 1938 he got his chance to be commissioned when he was promoted to Acting Warrant Engineer, having passed his exams.
By the time of the outbreak of the war he was now a Warrant Engineer and ready for service as an Officer.
At the time he earned his DSC, he was a Warrant Engineer on HMS Abdiel.
The Abdiel, arrived at Taranto Habour in Italy on 10th September 1943, as part of “Operation Slapstick”.
On board was many troops form the British 1st Airborne Disivion (6th Royal Welsh Parachute Battalion and the 204 Oban Anti-Tank Battery RA), little did they know that the harbour had just been mined by 2 German Torpedo Boats the S-54 and S-61 as they left the harbour only a few hours earlier.
Shortly after midnight, the mines exploded under the ship and in just 3 minutes the whole ship sank, with great loss of life to both her Crew and the Soldiers.
From the 1st Airborne Division, they lost 58 men dead and another 150 injured, the Derbyshire Yeomanry also lost a member of Popski’s Private Army, Lieutenant Duncan Baxter McGillavray, as well as 48 of her crew being lost.
