A K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G. group of eight to Admiral Sir B. E. Domville, Royal Navy, who was detained as a Nazi Sympathiser during World War 2, author of the autobiographies ‘By and Large’ and ‘From Admiral to Cabin Boy’

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, K.B.E. (Military) Knight Commander’s 2nd type set of insignia, neck badge, gilt metal and enamel, suspension ring detached from crown, breast star, silver, gilt metal and enamel; The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Commr., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt., R.N.); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, good very fine and better except where stated (9)
£1200-1400

Barry Edward Domville was born in 1878, the eldest son of Admiral Sir Compton Edward Domville. Educated on H.M.S. Britannia, he entered the Royal Navy in 1892 as a Cadet and was promoted Midshipman in 1894, Sub Lieutenant then Lieutenant in 1898. As a Lieutenant he was awarded the Goodenough Gold Medal for best in the gunnery course; the Ryder Memorial Prize for best in navigation course; Beaufort Testimonial Prize for best in French examination; Egerton Prize for best in course for Gunnery Lieutenant and was Gold Medallist of the Royal United Services Institution in 1906. Appointed Commander in 1909, he was appointed Acting Captain in 1915 and Captain in 1916. From August 1914 to May 1915 he commanded the Miranda, a destroyer of the Harwich Force, which participated in the Cuxhaven Raid of 25 December 1914 and the battle of Dogger Bank, 24 January 1915. He later held command in the destroyers Tipperary and Lightfoot. He commanded the light cruiser Arethusa of the Harwich Force, from November 1915 until February 1916 when she struck a mine. He then commanded the Centaur from July 1916 to late 1917 when she too struck a mine. From January 1918 he commanded the Curacao and took part in the operation in which Flight Lieutenant Culley in a Sopwith Camel was launched from a barge towed by a destroyer to shoot down a zeppelin. For his wartime services Domville was mentioned in despatches and created a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1917. From 1919 he was on the Naval Staff as Assistant Director and Director of Policy and Planning, being created a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1922. During 1922-25 he was Chief of Staff with the rank of Commodore to Admiral Sir Osmand Brock of the Mediterranean Fleet and during the years 1925-26 he was captain of the battleship Royal Sovereign and was A.D.C to King George V during 1926-27. Promoted Rear-Admiral in 1927, he was Director of Naval Intelligence until 1930 and then during 1930-31 he commanded the 3rd Cruiser Squadron as part of the Mediterranean Fleet, being promoted Vice-Admiral in 1931. From 1932-34 he was President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. He retired with the rank of Admiral in 1936, having been honoured with the K.B.E. in 1934.

Between the wars Domville developed a fear that the Jews and Freemasons were plotting with Communists to gain power, and became linked with the fascists in both Britain and Germany. In 1937 he formed the “Link” - an Anglo-German friendship group promoting peace and good will between the two countries - this encouraged by his friend Himmler whom he wrote had a ‘charming personality’. The “Link” club was to develop many branches throughout the country and even issued a badge to its members. With the outbreak of war he tried to get the political right wing and the peace movements together as one union. His connection with the Link and close association with Sir Oswald Moseley led to his arrest on 7 July 1940 under the Defence Regulation 18B. He was detained without charge at Brixton Prison until July 1943; his wife arrested at the same time was released from Holloway in November 1941. The Admiral was later given a full pardon and died on 13 August 1971.

Sold with copied service papers and a quantity of copied research, copied photographs and two books: (a) By and Large, London 1936, 256pp, plus plates, blue cloth, inside page inscribed, ‘To my friends Sir George and Lady Hume, (signed) Barry Domville, 20th March 1936’. (b) From Admiral to Cabin Boy’, Metaire, 1947, 163pp, paperback. In the former Sir Barry Domville recalls his wartime and post-war naval service and also his early years of retirement, including his meetings with Himmler and other Nazis; he also recalls a day spent at Dachau Concentration Camp. The second book deals mainly with the years prior to the Second World War, his arrest and time in prison and thereafter. His views on Judaism, Freemasonry and Communism being particularly biased and forthright!