Distinguished Service Medal GVIR (TEMP A/L. S. C.H. COBB. P/JX. 261096); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45 - unnamed as awarded.
Charles Henry Cobb was born at Portsmouth on 28 August 1915, the son of Henry George and Alice Elizabeth Cobb. He married Ella Miller in January 1938 and had 8 children. He enlisted in the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman on 3 February 1941 and was sent to Collingwood and Victory for his initial training he was posted to Quebec on 1 August 1941.
The navy base, H.M.S. Quebec, was part of the No. 1 Combined Training Centre. Following additional training he was posted to Dinosaur from 1 April 1942-30 April 1943 and then Hamilcar which was a shore base for Combined Operations and Landing in Algeria on 1 May 1943 until 30 September 1943, serving on Landing Craft Tanks, 35, 131 and later 394.
He was next posted to Landing Craft Infantry (Large) 102 as its Coxswain on 17 February 1943-20 September 1944 subsequently taking part in Operation Avalanche - Salerno , Operation Shingle - Anzio & Operation Brassard - Elba.
The main assault on Elba in June 1944 was carried out by French troops, with the support of R.N. Commandos, and assorted ships and landing craft manned by the R.N. and U.S.N. - among the latter a P.T. Boat commanded by the film star, Douglas Fairbanks, Jnr., who was awarded the French Croix de Guerre. In terms of the D-Day landings in Normandy, which had taken place 10 days earlier, the operation may well have been classed as a 'little sideshow', but in terms of enemy opposition and resultant gallantry it was anything but little - in fact "Operation Brassard" proved to be an extremely costly enterprise, the R.N. Commandos alone suffering losses of 38 killed.
As confirmed by Rear-Admiral Troubridge's post-operational report, Allied intelligence had grossly underestimated Elba's defences - rather than 'under 800 Germans, preponderantly Poles and Czechs of low morale and all set for evacuation', the Allied assault was met by a force of '2,600 Germans who fought extremely well', while the local defences were formidable in the extreme, for 'they had excavated caves in the granite cliffs flanking the beaches and installed 155mm., 88mm. and machine-guns in them'. Added to which, 'behind the beaches, exactly ranged on the likely places of disembarkation, were heavy mortars.'
Because of the shallow waters large naval and transport ships could not be used. The only naval gunfire support would be provided by landing craft, Aphis and Cockchafer.
Shore discharged on 24 January 1946. Cobb died at Portsmouth on 17 February 1980
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal per LG 37119 On 14 June 1945 - the recommendation, for meritorious service and devotion to duty, dated 29.12.1944, read thus:
"During the 21 months from December 1942 until September 1944 whilst acting as coxswain he set an excellent example of efficiency and devotion to duty. He maintained this high standard throughout the operations at Salerno, Anzio and Elba and his cheerful disposition always encouraged the spirits of the crew in the face of enemy fire."
According to the 1939 Register he was living at 28A Arnaud Street, Portsmouth and was a Labourer N.S.O. in the Receipt Room of H.M Dockyard, Portsmouth. His medals were posted to him on 21 July 1950
He passed away whilst living at 45 Watts Road, Portsmouth on 17 February 1980.
Medals are in good condition unless otherwise indicated. Sold with research.
