Description
A WW2 ‘Salerno Landings’ DSC Group of 5 awarded to Gunner Martin Kenneth Hunt, Royal Navy, for ‘courage and outstanding skill’ aboard HMS Mauritius in September 1943, comprising: Distinguished Service Cross, GRI, reverse engraved ‘1944’ with London hallmarks for 1945 with Garrard & Co. original box of issue, 1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star with clasp ‘Burma’, Italy Star, War Medal, 1939-1945; the first loose with reverse pin for wear, remaining medals swing mounted on bar with reverse pin for wear, and riband bar. Extremely fine, toned.
DSC London Gazette 23.05.1944 – ‘for courage and outstanding skill and devotion to duty shown in HMS Mauritius in operations which led to successful landings at Salerno in September 1943.’ Acting Gunner Martin Kenneth Hunt was born 16 June 1913, in Maidstone, Kent. He appears as a Gunner in the Navy Lists dated 1940 (Chatham) and served in WW2 aboard HMS Mauritius, and served with great distinction aboard this vessel during the Salerno landings 9 September 1943. Having started the war whilst undergoing a re-fit at Singapore, she was posted to the Mediterranean Fleet. This ship played a central role in providing bombardment and support at the height of the Salerno landings, and it was during this action, presumably due to his role firing one of its guns, that Gunner Martin Kenneth Hunt was awarded the DSC. This vessel also assisted in a similar way during the Anzio landings, as well as providing cover during D-Day at her position off Sword Beach with ‘Force D’. HMS Mauritius also sank the Sperrbrecher 157 14-15 August alongside a small group of destroyers, and during the Battle of Audierne Bay she sank five Vorpostenboote 22-23 August. After this she returned to the Home Fleet. He later served as a Temporary Lieutenant (Special Branch) serving with the Cadet Corps as late as 1955, and other genealogical research shows that he died in January 1994, at the age of 80, at Swale, Kent.
Sold with copied research, London Gazette DSC mention, useful research, seven photographs of the recipient and places he visited whilst serving, a vintage ‘John Player Special’ cigarette box, and original DSC notification document.
