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Gallantry/Meritorious

Distinguished Conduct Medal, GV first issue (987 Sjt. R. Fraser. 1/2 High: F.A. R.A.M.C.- T.F.); British Empire Medal, EIIR issue, Civil Division (Robert Fraser, D.C.M.); 1914-15 Star (987. S- Sjt. R. Fraser. R.A.M.C.); British War & Victory Medals (987 S. Sjt. A. Fraser. R.A.M.C.) and Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, GV issue (303015 S. Sjt. R. Fraser. R.A.M.C.). Staff Sergeant Robert Fraser, D.C.M., B.E.M., was born in Aberdeenshire, in 1894. He joined the Territorials in 1910 serving with the Royal Engineers, the Gordon Highlanders and subsequently served during the Great War in France and Flanders from 15/5/1915 with the Highland Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps. While serving in France in the Highland Field Ambulance Company of the 51st Highland Division he was buried by a shell during the battle of the Somme. For bravery in the field during this action General Plummer of the 2nd Army decorated Mr. Fraser with the D.C.M. at Armentieres. Early in 1918 he was sent home wounded, and on recovery was sent to Russia with the Murmansk Force under General Maynard. In 1941, he joined the A.M.W.D. as clerk of works, building Woodville Fighter Station and stayed there until 1945. Later he moved to Leicester East Bomber Station where he stayed until 1948, when he went to No. 16 Maintenance Unit. In 1952 he went to Fauld as clerk of works engineer in 1958.Fraser was presented with the B.E.M. at R.A.F. Fauld, June 1961, by Air Vice Marshal R.C. Storrar, C.B., O.B.E.. The citations/details of his decorations are as under;
D.C.M. London Gazette 20.10.1916 987 Sjt. R. Fraser, R.A.M.C

. 'For conspicuous gallantry during operations. When it was reported that stretcher bearers were in difficulty up the road, he immediately went out and, though knocked over and practically buried by a shell, brought in the party to a dressing station. He has done other fine and gallant work.'

B.E.M. London Gazette 10.6.1961 Robert Fraser, D.C.M., Clerk of Works, No.21 Maintenance Unit, Royal Air Force Fauld. (Lichfield). The group is sold with an accompanying research file including; MIC; Newspaper Article; Letters from RAMC Museum; Copy LG pages for BEM; Citation for DCM. A fine gallantry group to the 51st Highland Division.

Distinguished Conduct Medal (EDVII) (66038 Sjt. C.E. Simms, RFA) Queen's South Africa Medal 5 clasps Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (66038 Serjt. C.E. Simms, RFA), King's South Africa Medal 2 clasps South Africa 1901 & South Africa 1902 (66038 Serjt. C.E. Simms, RFA), Military Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (66038 Bty Sjt Maj Serjt. C.E. Simms, RFA), Army Meritorious Service Medal GVI (66038 WO Cl 2. C.E. Simms (DCM), RA). Also with Silver War Badge s/n 294850, Defence and War Medals ( came together with the group) and a engraved brass plaque reading:

'Presented to Batty Sergt Maj Simms by the NCOs and Men of 5th Battery RFA on his leaving the service 7 Dec 1908'

The DCM, South Africa medals and MSM are mounted as worn while other medals are separate. Seems as if at some point the MSM replaced the LSGC on the mounting.

A fascinating gallantly long service group with come with over 40 pages of service documents, details of his Mention in Despatches and his award of the MSM. Charles Edward Simms came from Luttleworth, Leicester and enlisted into the Royal Artillery at Preston on 9th January 1888 aged 18 years and a baker by trade. He was promoted Bombardier in Feb 1891, Corpl in Dec 1891, Sergt in May 1895 and Bty Sgt Major Oct 1904. He was discharged from the regular army in Feb. 1909 and immediately attested into the Leicestershire Royal Horse Artillery (TF)where he was immediately given the rank of Bty Sgt Major. He attended regular annual trainings until he was mobilized on 5th Aug 1914 as Bty Sgt Major (WO II) Royal Horse Artillery ). He was finally discharged in July 1917 after 29 years service and aged 42 years. Having been recommended for, but presumably declined, a Commission.

Bty Sgt Major Simms' Great War service was entirely in the UK which his confirmed by his MIC (copy with group) which refers only to his MSM having been awarded in 1946. There is no entitlement therefore to Great War medals other than the Silver War Badge. WW2 service of any kind cannot be confirmed.

He was mentioned in Lord Robert's despatch of 4th Sept 1901 as Sgt C. Simms, RA but listed under the Mounted Infantry section. Simms' DCM was published in the London Gazette of 27 Sept 1901 (copied) confirming that he served in and won the DCM in the 6th Btn Mounted Infantry. Possibly a unique RA DCM to the Mounted Infantry.

MIC shows WO Cl II C.E. Simms, DCM was awarded the MSM with annuity in AO 8th July 1946.

Military Medal. GV first issue (MS-933 Pte. G.C. Dickens, MT ASC); 1914 Star, British War and Victory Medals (MS-933 Pte. G.C. Dickens, ASC). Come with Silver War Badge. Gilbert Charles Dickens was born in Paddington and enlisted at Weybridge, he entered France on 23rs Spet 1914.. He was awarded the MM for service in France in LG 6th August 1918 while attached to the 16th Field Ambulance RAMC. Pte Dickens died of wounds at home on 16th Feb 1919 and is buried in Paddington Cemetery. He was the son of Mr C.W. Dickens, 9 Woodside Cottages, Waverley Raod, Weybridge, Surrey. With copies of MICs, LG and Soldiers Died.

Commonwealth War Graves Details

British War Medal (Lieut. R.T. Venn), Victory Medal (Lieut. R.T. Venn) with Mention in Despatches, 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, Coronation Medal 1937 (last six unnamed as issued).

Chaplain Robert Thomas Venn M.A. of the Royal Navy was commissioned into the Middlesex Regiment on 25 March 1915 and served with the 14th, then the 19th (2nd Public Works Pioneers) Battalions, on the Western Front and in Italy, where he was mentioned in the despatches of General Plumer (London Gazette 30 May 1918) "For gallant and distinguished service in Italy".

After the war Venn took an M.A. in Theology at Oxford University (1921) and was ordained as a priest of the Church of England in the same year.

In 1925 he joined the Royal Navy as a Chaplain and served in a variety of ships and bases both at home and abroad, including with the Mediterranean and China Fleets. In June 1937 Venn was appointed to HMS Warspite which was then Flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet. Venn served in her throughout the first two years of the Second World War. Warspite played a prominent role in the 2nd Battle of Narvik, when she assisted in the annihilation of 8 German destroyers and a U-boat, and the Battle of Matapan, in which four Italian cruisers were destroyed. On 22nd May 1941 Warspite was bombed during the evacuation of Crete and so badly damaged that she had to be sent to the USA for repairs.

At this stage Venn left the ship and took up an appointment ashore. In 1949 he left the RN and became an Honorary Chaplain to the King. He also held a number of other clerical preferments at Wellington School, Bath & Wells and Exeter. He died in 1982.

Sold with a gold (-plated?) cross measuring one inch long inscribed "R.T. Venn" on the reverse.

1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star with clasp 1942-43,
Burma Star, Italy Star, War Medal with Mention in Despatches (all un-named as issued but with original Admiralty award document and cardboard box of issue to Lt Cdr Eric Anthony Kennedy RNVR).

Lieutenant Commander Kennedy served successively in a battlecruiser, a battleship and an aircraft carrier. He saw active service in the three main theatres of the war at sea, i.e. the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Pacific, and was awarded the maximum possible number of campaign stars.

Kennedy, who came from Tasmania, was commissioned into the RNVR as Acting/Temporary Paymaster Lieutenant Commander on 10 August 1940.

On the same date, he was appointed to the battlecruiser Renown, flagship of Sir James Somerville who commanded Force H, based at Gibraltar. During this period Kennedy saw active service in both the Mediterranean (escort of Malta convoys, bombardment of Genoa) and the North Atlantic (the hunt for the Bismarck).

In August 1941 Kennedy transferred to the battleship Malaya. She too was deployed in the Mediterranean and took part in Malta convoys, including one of the most bitterly-contested convoy actions, Operation Substance in June 1942.

On 15 July 1942 Kennedy was appointed to Unicorn, a light fleet carrier. She first saw operational service off the coast of Norway, then supported the Allied landings at Salerno on the Italian mainland in July 1943. Kennedy's mentioned in dispatches (London Gazette 1st January 1944) probably relates to his good work in this operation. From late 1943 to the end of the war Unicorn served with the Eastern Fleet, winning the battle honour 'Okinawa.'

Sold together with a research file including original postcards of Unicorn

£15

Queen's Vietnam Logistics Medal unnamed as issued. Note the authenticity if this medal is verified in writing by Staff Officer Policy Research, Directorate of Honours and Awards, Australia.

1914-15 Star (Mate G.T. Sullivan, RN), British War Medal and Victory Medal (Eng. Lt. G.T. Sullivan, RN), Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, Silver Jubilee Medal 1935

Captain George Thomas Sullivan RN was born 1889, in Plymouth. Enlisted 1905 as a Boy Artificer. In 1912 he was posted to Lion at the beginning of her maiden commission. In 1913 she became flagship of Admiral Sir David Beatty, commanding the battlecruiser squadron. He was still serving in her on 28 August 1914 at the Battle of the Heligoland Bight.

In 1913 the Navy introduced the Mate scheme to enable promising ratings to get commissions. In 1914 this was extended to the engineering branch and Sullivan was one of the first batch of 14 to be appointed Acting Mate.

In December 1914 he was posted to the battleship Marlborough and served in her at the Battle of Jutland. She was the only battleship of the RN to be torpedoed, and suffered a few casualties. Marlborough saw more action than most of the Battle Fleet and is credited with many hits on the enemy.

Sullivan later served in other battleships including Agincourt, Resolution and Centurion. He received steady promotion and retired in 1937 with the rank of Commander.

He was recalled in 1939 and promoted Captain (E). He worked as a gun-mounting overseer at Vickers Armstrong's shipyards on the Tyne under the Director of Naval Ordnance. He retired again at the end of the war and died in 1961.

It was very rare for anyone who joined as a rating to be commissioned, let alone reach the rank of Captain.

Sold with service record, research and original postcard of Marlborough from about 1914.

1914-15 Star (L.Sig. F.C. Donno, RN), British War Medal and Victory Medals (YS F.C. Donno, RN), Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (GV, 2nd type) (Yea. Sigs. F.C.Donno HMS Highflyer).

Frederick Clarence Donno, Chief Yeoman of Signals, Royal Navy on the outbreak of the Great War was serving in the Lively, a 400 ton destroyer launched in 1899. On 3 November 1914 she was in company with another old destroyer and a 20 year old gunboat, on patrol near Yarmouth when, at dawn, they encountered the German battlecruiser squadron, making the first of its notorious raids on England's east coast. The survival of the three small vessels was a miracle; they were smothered in so many water-spouts from near misses that the German gunlayers were unable to spot accurately. After wasting quarter of an hour in this engagement Hipper resumed his bombardment of Yarmouth.
In 1917 Donno served in Contest, a destroyer deployed on convoy escort duty (convoys having just been introduced that year). On the evening of 18 September Contest was torpedoed by a U-boat and sunk. There was a long delay before the survivors were picked up and at least one boat load was lost. Donno gave evidence at the subsequent enquiry and his service papers were endorsed with the Admiralty's appreciation of his behaviour "under very trying circumstances."
Donno was awarded his Long Service Medal in 1920 when serving in the cruiser Highflyer. He retired to pension in 1927.
Sold with research dossier including copy service papers, old postcard of Contest.

Samuel Workman was born in Glasgow and enlisted into the Highland Light Infantry at Glasgow. He died at home on 22nd April.1940 (probably from wounds) and is buried at Glasgow's Riddrie Park Cemetery. Medals have been swing mounted.

Commonwealth War Graves Details

1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star, War Medal 1939-45,
Royal Navy LS & GC Medal (GVI, 1st Type) (P.O. T.W. Burchell, HMS Valiant)

With copy of service papers Thomas William Burchell was born in Portsmouth in 1908 and enlisted in the RN at the age of 15. In his early service he served in several of the famous battleships of the RN including Ramillies, Queen Elizabeth and Valiant.

Burchell's Long Service Medal was awarded in May 1941 when he was again serving in Valiant, in the Mediterranean Fleet. She saw a great deal of action in world War Two, including the Norwegian campaign, the attack on the French fleet at Mers-el-Kebir, escort of Malta convoys, Battle of Crete, etc.

On 19 December 1941 Valiant (and her sister Queen Elizabeth) fell victim to one of the most spectacular and successful Special Forces operations of the war when Italian frogmen penetrated Alexandria harbour at night and laid explosives under the two battleships. Both were severely damaged and out of action for a long time.

With service papers Woodhouse was awarded his Long Service Medal on 7 May 1945 whilst serving in the destroyer Orwell and from his medal group it is very likely that he served in her from when she was first commissioned in September 1942. Her battle honours were Arctic 1942-45, Barents Sea 1942, Atlantic 1943, Normandy 1944, Norway 1945. The Barents Sea action was a particularly brilliant action when five destroyers (including Orwell) defended a convoy for four hours against a German squadron which included a pocket battleship, a heavy cruiser and six destroyers.

1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, War Medal unnamed but attributable to Marine Thomas Loveden, Royal Marines with original Admiralty condolences certificate.

Mne Loveden was born in or about 1904 and enlisted in the Royal Marines at the Plymouth depot (PLY X759).

He was serving in the battlecruiser Repulse on 10 December 1941 when she was sunk by Japanese aircraft off Kuantan, south-east Malaya

www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/repjkl.html

He survived this disaster "According to Jack Wardle's HMS RM Nominal Roll Loveden was Ship's Butcher and was 'Discharged to HMS Danae.' It would appear that Loveden was evacuated from Singapore onboard HMS Danae before the surrender, and then transferred to the Anking at Java.

HMS Anking, a depot ship for the RN at Batavia (now Jakarta). When the capture of Java by the Japanese was imminent, Anking formed part of a small convoy which sailed for Australia. The convoy was intercepted by Japanese warships just after sunrise on 4 March 1942, about 280 miles south-east of Tjilatjap (today Cilacap) near the centre of the south coast of Java. The convoy was annihilated, and Loveden was amongst the casualties.

Loveden died at the age of 38, leading a widow who lived in Whitleigh, Devon.and is recorded on the Plymouth Naval Memorial click here for CWGC details. SOLD

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