Amongst the 1350 lots in the upcoming auction, there are several collectible treasures. Once such example is lot 166, a scarce Distinguished Service Medal Group awarded to PO Cook Berey of the Royal Navy. And the story behind his award is truly remarkable... 

View lot 166 

Petty Officer Cook Conrad Leonard Berey, Charioteer

Berey served in the Royal Navy as a Charioteer, a diver who rode a two-man 22ft ‘Human Torpedo’ chariot. Described as a man who was “mentally and physically hard”, Berey was well-suited to the dangerous life of a Charioteer. Indeed, Berey embraced his role, “his life was the sea and the Navy”.

Attack on Tripoli

At 22:30 on 18th January 1942, two Chariots departed form H.M Submarine Tunderbolt, with the mission of disrupting the German blockships at Tripoli harbour ahead of the arrival of the Eighth Army. Alongside the pilot Larkin, Berey was the number 2 charioteer, respnsible for attaching ther warhead to the targeted ship. Unfortunately, their hydroplanes became damaged in the approach to the harbour, meaning they were unable to dive and complete their mission. However, the continued need for concealment was paramount to avoid giving away the presence of the other- operational, Charioteer team in the waters.

Instead, Larkin and Berey beached the Chariot at 02:30, before embarking on a lengthy trek inland, severing cables and telephone lines along the route. Over the following 7 days Larkin and Berey hid in roadside ditches and woodland during daylight hours, were captured by an armoured German division, subsequently escaped and were found by a local Italian sympathetic to the English cause. The Italian sheltered the Charioteers and on the seventh day since their departure from the Thunderbolt, Larkin and Berey made their entry into Tripoli, then held by the Eighth Army.

Attack on La Spezia

Two year later, on 21st June 1944, Berey was deployed from the Greacle as part of a two Chariot operation to attack cruisers under German command, Bolzano and Gorizia, at the Cosrican port of Bastia.

Berey controlled the chariot, alongside Ken Lawrence as Number 2 Charioteer. A short distance from the breakwater, Berey discovered the Chariot was uncontrollable due to an air leak in the ballast tank. Diving attempts failed, with over a foot of the warhead emerging above the water at one point. Unable to make a concealed approach, Berey chose to press on towards the breakwater nonetheless. Unsuccessful attempts to find a gap in the breakwater caused considerable damage to the warhead, so they instead sought a route through the harbour. This was proved immediately unworkable due to the amount of activity monitoring the water at the harbour. Unable to access their target unseen, and risking giving away the other chariot in the water if they were seen, Berey and Lawrence were forced to abandon their operation and land at a nearby bay. Berey’s bad luck, however, had not run out.

While heading ashore, Berey stumbled and fell into the shallows. Seawater quickly filled his diving suit through the visor weighing him down and rapidly replacing the air in his suit. Berey was narrowly saved from drowning by Lawrence wrenching him to safety. Once safely ashore, the men wasted no time in sinking their suits and heading along the beach, through a gap in the wire onto the road and up into the mountain above. The next morning, they were awoken by the sound of an explosion, which proved to be their fellow Charioteers successfully attacking the Bolzano.

Now awake, Berey and Lawrence decided to start moving towards the rendezvous point in order to arrive by 22:30. They followed a goat path until they were in sight of the rendezvous point, where they were halted by a a several hundred foot cliff face. Unfazed even in such circumstances, Berey and Lawrence made an attempt to descend the cliff until it became apparent they would not survive the journey down. Forced to re-trace their steps uphill, time was rapidly running out to make it to the rendezvous on time. At dusk, the men navigated the outskirts of La Spezia, aiming for the dockyard. Progress was challenging as hidden sentries were scattered over the route. The men narrowly avoided identification at several points - Berey even had to rely on his Italian to allay the suspicions of one sentry.

The following day, Berey and Lawrence adapted their plans and made an audacious venture through the town itself at twilight. Although populous, they managed to pass through without attracting attention. However, once through the town progress was slow and disheartening. Coming across a river, Berey and Lawrence also fortuitously found an abandoned rowing boat and ventured downstream. Yet, before long, they found the river blocked by German sentires. Without many choices, the Charioteers retreated and followed the main coast road to Pietrasanta. On route, Berey and Lawrence were met by a group of young Italians who announced themselves as partisans, and offered to take the Englishmen to their headquarters. Arriving at a woodland clearing in the hills, Berey and Lawrence found themselves in teh company of none other than their fellow Charioteers, who had joined the partisans three days earlier. The four Charioteers continued with the partisans for six weeks, carrying out daring raids, meeting with other Allies and receiving key information to be carried back to Allied Lines.

Finally, on 10th August, Berey passed through German Lines and rejoined British Forces on the other side of the Arno. He was, however, the only one of the four Charioteers who made it back to Allied Lines. The other three were wounded and captured by German forces in their attempts.

Lot 166 

The narrative of Berey's remarkable wartime career is brought to light in his DSM group and accompanying paperwork making up lot 166 in C&T's Fine Arms, Armour and Militaria auction on 25th & 26th February, 2026. 

Having previously been sold at auction by Sotherby's on 10th November 1988, this lot has passed through several hands before returning to Berey's native Ashford, Kent, where it is now offered at auction by C&T Auctioneers. 

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