British Sinking of the Scharnhorst Naval Gallantry Grouping – Item 119765

Super Naval Gallantry Group awarded to Gunner Percival O’Kell of HMS Scorpion. O’Kell was born in Liverpool in 1908 and joined The Royal Navy on 7 May 1929. Being a torpedo Gunner on HMS Scorpion. O’Kell was awarded the DSC for Gallantry, Distinguished Service and Devotion to duty. The award was announced in the London Gazette on 7.3.1944. He was one of the crew involved in stopping the escape attempt of the famous German battleship Sharnhorst and fired 16 torpedos at the Sharnhorst and eventually sinking it.  With this unique grouping comes a fantastic stack of naval messages detailing the run up to the battle and the firing of torpedoes and picking up of Scharnhorst survivors – Note only 26 from a crew of 1970 Officers and men. Also with the group is his pocket size diary and on the last pages he writes of his experiences during the battle. “At 1849 range 100 torpedo 8 in 1 fired, we had the joy in seeing one hit”. With this group is also a photograph of him at Buckingham Palace with his sister and mother where he received his medal. A fantastic grouping to a famous and historically important Naval battle. Other ephemera included. The DSC comes with it original case and dated 1944. Plus 39-45 Star, Atlantic Star with clasp, Africa Star and War Medal.