Description
D.S.M. London Gazette 15 August 1944. – ‘For undaunted courage, skill and devotion to duty in successful patrols in H.M. Submarines.’
Medal – Distinguished Service Medal named to A/LDG. SIG. W. E. PEARCE. D/JX 163773.
William Edward Pearce was Acting Leading Signaller on H.M.S. Satyr when she attacked and sank U-987 in a rare sub-on-sub action in the North Sea.
The Satyr, commanded by Lieutenant T. S. Weston, D.S.C., R.N., had already completed seven operational patrols off Norway prior to this classic “sub-on-sub” encounter, when she fired a full bow salvo of six torpedoes, two of which found their mark. There were no German survivors – the U-987’s captain was 28 year old Hilmar Karl Schreyer, one time an enlisted Quarter-Master on Gunther Krech’s highly successful U-558. The following narrative of the action formed part of the subsequent recommendation process for Honours and Awards:
‘H.M. Submarine Satyr was on patrol in an area North of the Faroe Islands on 15 June 1944 when a U-Boat was sighted in poor visibility and an attack started; but, observing that the range was opening, Lieutenant T. S. Weston, R.N., the Commanding Officer, decided to surface and endeavour to close. On surfacing the visibility cleared and it was obviously hopeless to continue the chase without being observed. Lieutenant Weston rightly appreciated that the U-Boat was on passage and that others might pass close enough for attack. 
At 1907 another U-Boat was sighted at some four miles, being astern of Satyr at the time of sighting, the latter being on the U-Boat’s port bow. Whilst Satyr was turning to attack the U-Boat altered course away, necessitating a further alteration of course and a burst of speed to decrease the range. Lieutenant Weston decided to anticipate any further zigs on the part of the enemy by firing as soon as practicable and eight minutes after the original sighting a salvo of six torpedoes was fired.
As the fifth torpedo left the tube the enemy was observed to be altering course and Lieutenant Weston withheld firing his last torpedo for a few seconds. Two torpedoes exploded prematurely but 25 seconds later two torpedoes were seen to hit the target, one just abaft the bow and the other below the conning tower, and the U-Boat appeared to break in half. There was sufficient time before she sank for several persons to see the bows sticking out of the water, through Satyr’s periscope.
This well executed attack carried out in a short period on a zig-zagging target certainly resulted in the destruction of a German U-Boat and is in accordance with the general efficiency now expected of H.M. Submarine Satyr under the able command of Lieutenant Weston.’ He was duly awarded the D.S.O., his Number One the D.S.C. and four crew members, including William Edward Pearce, the D.S.M. Four other ratings were mentioned in despatches.
