WW2 Far East Distinguished Service Medal (Immediate Award) Group of Five – Able Seaman A.W. Dunn, HMS Rapid, Royal Navy

A second world war Far East DSM immediate award medal group of five awarded to D/JX 284607 Able Seaman Alfred William Dunn, Royal Navy. Awarded the DSM for service on HMS Rapid during the bombardment of the Andaman Islands off the coast of Sumatra in March 1944. 

George VI Distinguished Service Medal named to A.B. A.W. Dunn. D/JX 284607 
1939-45 Star unnamed as issued 
Atlantic Star unnamed as issued 
Burma Star unnamed as issued 
War Medal 1939-45 unnamed as issued 

The DSM has some minor wear but generally the medals are in good condition. 

Citation for D.S.M.
 ‘This Able Seaman was the gunlayer of “X’ gun when it received a direct hit on the trainers side, the Officer of the Quarters, Captain of the Gun and trainer being killed and others wounded. He endeavoured to get his gun into action again, and when he found this was hopeless he tended the wounded, and then took his guns crew on to the upper deck to see where he could be of use. They were largely responsible for securing “Saumarez” alongside. Throughout he was cheerful and regardless of danger setting a fine example to those around him.’ 

Dunn was awarded his DSM for service on HMS Rapid which was an R class Destroyer and was deployed with HMS Saumarez and HMS Volage in the Indian Ocean during March 1944. It bombarded targets in Sumatra and the Andaman Islands where it was hit and disabled by counter bombardment from shore batteries. 11 of the crew were killed and 23 injured in the action. HMS Rapid had to be towed back to Akyab by HMS Suamarez for temporary repair.