Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte 1164
A rare Russia 1919 operations D.S.M. group of five awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer G. B. Vincent, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallantry in the monitor M. 23 on the North Dvina
DISTINGUISHED SERVICEMEDAL, G.V.R. (270827 G. B. Vincent, C.E.R.A. 2 Cl., “M. 23”, Dwina River 1918-19); 1914-15 STAR (270827 G. B. Vincent, C.E.R.A. 2, R.N.); BRITISHWARMEDAL 1914-20 (270827 G. B. Vincent, C.E.R.A. 1, R.N.); VICTORY MEDAL 1914-19, naming erased; ROYAL NAVY L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (270827 G. B. Vincent, C.E.R.A., H.M.S. Attentive II), contact marks, edge bruising, cleaned and lacquered, otherwise generally good fine (5)
£1400-1800
D.S.M. London Gazette 12 December 1919: ‘For services in Russia.’
The original recommendation states:
‘This C.E.R.A. was in charge of the machinery of the M. 23 the whole time the ship served in North Russia, from August 1918 to September 1919, and the fact that M. 23 has never failed to function is much to his credit. He looked after his machinery during the winter most efficiently and M. 23 was the first vessel up river after the ice run. He was in action at River Front during May 1919. Very strongly recommended.’
George Borebank Vincent was born at Salisbury, Wiltshire, in August 1881 and entered the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class in October 1902.
An Engine Room Artificer 1st Class serving aboard the destroyer Ariel on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he quickly saw action in the Heligoland Bight, off the Belgian coast and at Dogger Bank, prior to coming ashore to Victory II in March 1915 after the Ariel sustained serious damage to her bow when ramming the U-12 off Aberdeen on the 10th - she picked up 10 survivors.
Vincent was next embarked for the Dardanelles in the monitor M. 23, in which ship he would remain actively employed from August 1915 until returning home from North Russia in September 1919, a period also encompassing time with the Dover Patrol in June 1917- June 1918. As for the M. 23’s time in North Russia on the North Dvina, and in particular her part in the bombardments of Lopski, Lulgas, Topsa and Troitsa during May 1919, in addition to encounters with enemy gunboats, see her daily log on
www.naval-history. net
Having been awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal back in November 1917, Vincent was finally pensioned ashore in October 1924; sold with copied service record.
1165
A rare Russia 1919 operations D.S.M. awarded to Able Seaman W. J. Thompson, Royal Navy, who was decorated for gallantry under fire in an Observation Post on the North Dvina
DISTINGUISHED SERVICEMEDAL, G.V.R. (SS 5974 W. J. Thompson, A.B., “Fox”, Archangel. Aug.-Sept. 1919), slack suspension, edge bruising, polished and plated, good fine
£800-1000
D.S.M. London Gazette 22 January 1920: ‘For services in Russia.’
The original recommendation states: ‘For conspicuous good service and coolness under fire in the advanced Naval Observation Position on the left bank of the River Dvina.’
William James Thompson was born in Co. Antrim in October 1896 and entered the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman in June 1915. Joining the cruiser H.M.S. Donegal two months later, he remained similarly employed until the War’s end, in which period he was advanced to Able Seaman.
Then in April 1919, he was embarked for Russia in the cruiser Fox, where, on arrival at Archangel, he was transferred to the books of the Borodino, flagship of the Senior Naval Officer, White Sea. Subsequently seeing action with Altham’s Flotilla in the North Dvina River operations in August-September, he was awarded his D.S.M. for the above cited deeds in a Naval Observation Position. G. R. Singleton-Gates’ Bolos & Barishynas states:
‘Naval Observation Positions were established on both banks, as near the front line as possible, and connected by telephone with the S. N.O.R. and Battalion H.Q. They were of the utmost value in keeping the flotilla informed of the position of our front line, enemy movements, and for spotting. They frequently came under very heavy fire on being located by the enemy.’
Thompson came ashore ‘time expired’ in June 1920, having latterly held the local rating of Leading Seaman in Russia; sold with copied service record.
www.dnw.co.uk
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