For sale is a cracking naval gallantry & WW2 Norwegian Liberty Medal group, making this one of only a handful of groups to include this Norwegian medal for mine laying missions in enemy waters. 

Distinguished Service Medal (G.V.I.R.) impressed named J.82838 J. BREARLEY C.P.O.; War and Victory Medals, impressed named J.82838 J. BREARLEY. BOY 1 R.N.; 1939 – 45 Star, Atlantic Star with clasp FRANCE AND GERMANY, War medal (1939 – 45) all unnamed as issued; Royal navy Long Service and Good conduct Medal (G.V.I.R.) impressed named J.82838 J. BREARLEY. P.O. H.M.S. TERROR II.; King Haakon VII Liberty Medal (Norway) unnamed as issued all swing mounted as worn. They come with copies of WW1 and WW2 service records, London Gazettes, medal rolls and newspaper articles.

D.S.M. London Gazette 11/6/1942.  ‘For gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty’.

King Haakon VII Liberty Medal. London Gazette 26/8/1947 ‘For excellent co-operation with Norwegian Forces during many difficult minelaying operations in enemy waters’.

Chief Petty Officer John Brearley was born on 7/1/1901 in Rochdale, Lancashire. He was working as a warehouseman when he enlisted as a Boy 2nd Class on 18/6/1918. He was posted to HMS Powerful (training ship) 18/6/1918 – undecipherable date. Posted to HMS Agincourt he deserted (date unreadable) ‘on the run’ until 2/4/1919 when he was recovered from absence by the civil police authorities Chesterfield. He received 42 days detention for the run which was removed from his record in 1924.

While serving with HMS Veteran (Destroyer) 2/2/1926 – 10/9/1928 and was involved in the 1927 Nanking Incident in which they bombarded the city to defend foreign residents against rioting and looting.

Awarded the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal 21/4/1938.

On the outbreak of WW2 he had risen to the rank of Chief Petty Officer and was serving on HMS Rodney (Nelson class battleship) 28/7/1939 – 15/8/1940. Drake 1 (shore base) 16/8/1940 – 19/12/1940.

Motor Launch ML 104 from 20/12/1940 – 1/4/1941, ML 104 1/7/1941 – records end. It would appear that he was the commander of the M.L.104 at the time.

M.L. 100 – 111 were Fairmile (A model) motor launches which was used as a mine layers. The fascinating subject  WW2 mine barriers are worthy of further research. The barriers which in part were laid by the small M.L’s were designed to block and channel the German Navy, small mine fields were also laid in German controlled shipping lanes to sink and harass enemy shipping. Laid under cover of darkness in enemy patrolled waters and a long way from home, they also had to contend with the Atlantic.     

He survived the war to be released from the service on 13/9/1945.

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