The historic sinking of the Bismark D.S.C. group of five attributed to Sub-Lieutenant Anthony

The historic sinking of the Bismark D.S.C. group of five attributed to Sub-Lieutenant Anthony William Duncan Beale, Fleet Air Arm: Distinguished Service Cross, George VI, 1st type, officially dated 1941 to reverse of lower arm and privately engraved (A. W. D. BEALE. R.N. H.M.S. ARK ROYAL.), in Garrard case of issue; 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, the last four loose; all very fine or better. [5]

Noonans, lot 1005, 24th June 2009

D.S.C. London Gazette 16/09/1941 "For gallantry, daring and skill in the operations in which the German Battleship Bismark was destroyed."

Following the destruction of the British battleship H.M.S. Hood by a shell from Bismark during the Battle of the Denmark Straight on the 24th of May 1941, the Admiralty committed every available vessel in the Atlantic to chase down the damaged Bismark as she ran for shelter on the Atlantic coast of France. The race to sink Bismark became desperate, until on the 26th of May the Fairy Swordsfish torpedo bombers of H.M.S. Ark Royal, operating at the limits of their endurance, crippled the German ship and bought vital time for other Royal Navy ships to catch up and bring about her destruction the following day. The final flight of fifteen Swordfish took off from Ark Royal at 19:00 in bad and deteriorating weather conditions. Guided to their target by H.M.S. Sheffield they commenced their series of attacks in sub-flights of three aircraft. At about 20:55. Beale, piloting 2P of 810 Squadron Fleet Air Arm, lost touch with his sub-flight and had to return to Sheffield to re-orient himself. The exact sequence of events at this time is uncertain, but it is generally accepted that Beale was to reappear alone, ahead of Bismark, and attack her unsupported, scoring a hit on her port side.

Beale was later based at H.M.S. Lanka, Ceylon, and was killed in action during an operational flight on the 5th of April 1942.