The superb Operation Dynamo DSO group of seven...

The superb Operation Dynamo DSO group of seven awards to Lieutenant Robert Bill, R.N.: The Distinguished Service Order, Companion's Breast Badge, George VI; 1939-145 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star, with Pacific bar; Defence Medal; 1939-45 War Medal; Coronation Medal 1953; court mounted as worn, very fine and better, [7]; together with a mounted group of corresponding dress miniature medals, about extremely fine; accompanied by a copy of Lieutenant Bill's official report to Commander M/S Dover on the operations by M/S trawlers under his command at Dunkirk, 29th May 1940, and a small quantity of original documents and photographs.

By direct descent

On the morning of the 29th May 1940, as the inexorable advance of Hitler's forces threatened to snuff out Britain's resistance to his war aims, Lieutenant Robert Bill, R.N. - an executive officer of the Dover minesweeping force - was ordered to Dunkirk in charge of six trawlers to assist in the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force. After shipping ladders off Ramsgate at 0430 the force proceeded to Dunkirk, arriving at 1350. Seeing the harbour very crowded, Bill offered to take on troops off the beaches but was eventually ordered into harbour, where he berthed at 1420, before reporting to the Piermaster, Commander James Clouston. Throughout the series of air raids that followed, he worked tirelessly in conditions of extreme danger organising the embarkation of troops and the berthing and unberthing of vessels. The third air raid, at 1800, was particularly severe, and it engendered a degree of panic among the waiting troops. Bill reported that "At this time I was with the Piermaster [Clouston] and he instructed me to draw my revolver to quell the panic". Meanwhile, the destroyer H.M.S. Grenade had been hit by two bombs, and her wreck was causing a threat to the other shipping. Lieutenant Bill gave orders, and the stricken Grenade was towed clear before her magazines exploded. Under orders to depart, Bill got his vessels - laden with men - underway. Unable to find Clouston, Bill "just managed to jump on board [trawler Fyldea] as she was leaving". Following a fruitless attempt, off the beach, to find more men to embark on his trawlers; and with the vessels in his charge sustaining damage, Bill made final preparations to leave. Approaching the destroyer H.M.S. Jaguar he offered to take on board some of her refugees, but was instead ordered to escort her, as she had no boats, and would therefore require support if badly damaged. As the two vessels proceeded for home, Jaguar came under attack by five dive bombers; and Bill, in the Fyldea, opened fire on them, provoking one of the planes to retaliate. As the German made his attack Bill ordered evasive manoeuvres and "six bombs...fell about 40/50 yards on our port beam". Later on the journey home, Bill caught up with the damaged and limping trawler Brock, relieving her of three urgent medical cases before making for Dover at full speed, arriving at 0300 on the 30th.

The recommendation for the D.S.O. concludes that "Throughout this period of severe trial Lieutenant Bill remained cool and self-possessed and set a magnificent example to those around him. He showed sound judgement in his actions and his orders to the trawlers and was largely responsible for the fact that greater loss was not incurred. A fine display of officer-like qualities and gallantry under fire."