A rare Russian Allied Naval Brigade operations D.S.M. group of four awarded to Acting Sergeant W. G. Geary, Royal Marine Light Infantry, later Regulating Petty Officer, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (PO/18518 Pte. W. G. Geary, R.M.L.I. Russian Allied Nl. Bde. 1 Jan. 1919); British War and Victory Medals (PO.18518 Act. Sgt. W. G. Geary, R.M.L.I.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue with fixed suspension (M.39271 W. G. Geary, R.P.O. H.M.S. Ganges) mounted as worn, light contact marks, nearly very fine (4)
£2000-2500

D.S.M. London Gazette 22 April 1919.

A full account of the Royal Marines in Russia may be found in Blumberg’s Britain’s Sea Soldiers 1914-19, a publication that also confirms the recipient’s award as being one of just nine D.S.Ms to the Corps for these operations. Whilst there are no details given of an action on this specific date the following account, which describes two sharp encounters with a Bolshevik armoured train near Kem, gives an indication of the nature of the campaign in Russia:

‘At 4.30 a.m. next morning [on 3 May 1919] the advance was re-organised, the Russians, who were of little use, being placed in support, the French took the right flank and were eventually lost in the wood, the Royal Marines were in the centre and on the left. After advancing formation for attack was assumed and the [R.M.A.] gun took up position on the right of the railway and opened fire over their heads. The [enemy’s] armoured train came on to about 600 yards firing its machine-guns but was forced to retire and all platoons advanced under rifle and machine-gun fire until within sight of their objective. The forest was very thick on both sides, but the advance was made under cover until the clearing was reached when the force was held up. The enemy could be seen retiring, and a few minutes later a large engine shed was blown up and the troops marched into a place which was a large railway centre called Maselskaya about 11 a.m. on 3 May 1919. Rations were exhausted and they were badly off for food because twenty seven railway bridges had been blown up and supplies could only come up in small lots.

About 14 days later the Royal Marines were ordered to advance again, and reached the next siding without meeting any resistance. Later they were reinforced by the K.R.R.C. and together they pushed on until they met the enemy holding a position at No. 12 siding, where the enemy were quickly dislodged, but at the next siding, No. 11, strong resistance was encountered and the company was held up for 14 hours before the position was gained. Food supplies were still scanty and the men became very exhausted and were given 24 hours rest. The next morning the advance was continued under very trying conditions and during the day again met the armoured train, but the force were able to take cover in the forest. The 65mm. gun came into action and the enemy retired and the force arrived within attacking distance of a large village and railway station called Medvyeja Gora on the western edge of Lake Onega. After several hours fighting the Royal Marines alone took this position and held it; the retreating enemy left dynamite in the fireplaces of many of the big buildings and also at the railway station and set the forest on fire’

It is interesting to note that due to the intense cold of the Arctic winter, Sir Ernest Shackleton travelled to Murmansk in 1918 to advise the Force based on his experiences gained in the Antarctic. As a result, each man was issued with an Arctic kit designed by him, comprising four sets of Wolseley underclothing, one Burberry suit, one large woollen lined overcoat, 12 pairs of socks, one pair of Shackleton boots, one Arctic cap, special gloves, one pair of blizzard goggles, one pair of skis and sticks, and one Westinghouse rifle manufactured in the U.S.A. The Force was also equipped with small axes, sleighs as used in Sir Ernest’s last expedition, sleeping bags, Stockholm tar and specially prepared food.

William George Geary was born in Holborn, London, on 15 February 1898, and enlisted at Southampton on 9 March 1915. He served at sea aboard H.M.S. Glory from 10 January to 10 April, 1916, and aboard H.M.S. Superb from July 1916 until April 1918. From 25 July 1918 he was on the books of H.M.S. Askold, a Russian cruiser seized by the British earlier that year and used as a Depot Ship in North Russia. Renamed Glory IV, Geary remained on its books whist he was engaged ashore with the Russian Allied Naval Brigade until he was paid off on 1 May 1919. He transferred to the Regulating Branch, Royal Navy, in April 1925.