Leading Seaman T. J. G. Beaumont, Royal Navy
Distinguished Service Medal, (GVI) (A.B. R.N.), officially impressed naming, Naval General Service clasp, Palestine 1936-39 (Ord. Smn., R.N.); 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, Korea , 1st issue (D.S.M. L.S. R.N.), U.N. Korea,
Mounted as originally worn,
D.S.M. London Gazette 20 December 1940:
‘For bravery in the defence of a Channel convoy.’
Thomas John Graham Beaumont serving in the destroyer H.M.S. Atherstone . As leading convoy escort to CW. 11, she left Southend in the afternoon of 11 September 1940, but in the early evening she was subjected to a heavy attack by two groups of Stukas. Being in narrow navigable channel, Atherstone had to rely solely on her A.A. fire, and was quickly straddled by 27 bombs.
Atherstone sustained three direct hits and numerous near misses, the former causing six fatalities and serious damage in the boiler rooms, thereby preventing her moving under her own steam. Despite the Atherstone being left a veritable sitting duck, the Luftwaffe instead turned their attention to the merchantmen, and Atherstone was towed by an anti-submarine tug into Chatham.
Two other men were awarded the D.S.M. and an Acting Stoker Petty Officer the C.G.M. Beaumont received his D.S.M. at an investiture held in March 1941.
