A Great War D.C.M. awarded to Petty Officer J. Kent, Hawke Battalion, Royal Naval Division, three times wounded in action

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (Clyde Z-3319 P.O. J. Kent, Hawke Bn. 63/R.N. Div.) edge bruise, very fine
£1200-1500

D.C.M. London Gazette 13 February 1917. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has on many occasions led successful patrols under heavy fire. He has rendered invaluable service and has been with the Battalion since its formation’.

John Kent was born on 17 April 1888. Living in Cowdenbeath, Fife and a Miner and Stoker by occupation, he entered the R.N.V.R. in January 1915. He was drafted from the Machine Gun Section 4th Battalion to the Hawke Battalion in March 1915, being promoted to Leading Seaman in June and Petty Officer in September 1915. Posted to Gallipoli, he was wounded on 6 November 1915 - receiving a gunshot wound to the left thigh, for which he was invalided to Malta. Discharged in February 1916, he rejoined his Battalion in Salonika. He ran foul of regulations in June 1916, being ‘absent at sunset and returning at 21.00 in an intoxicated condition’ for which he was demoted to Able Seaman. In the following month his rank was restored to Petty Officer. Later posted to the France/Flanders theatre of war, he was wounded in November 1916 - receiving a gunshot wounds to his left arm, leg and side, for which he was admitted to the 26th Gerneral Hospital in Etaples and thence invalided to England. In January 1917 he was awarded the D.C.M. for his conspicuous gallantry. Transferred to the 4th Reserve Battalion in January 1917, he was rated as an Acting Chief Petty Officer R.N.D. from June 1917, whilst acting as Company Sergeant-Major of ‘A’ Company 4th Reserve Battalion R.N.V.R. As Acting Chief Petty Officer he was posted once more to the Hawke Battalion in September 1917 and rejoined the unit in France. Kent was then wounded for a third time on 25 December 1917 - receiving a severe gunshot wound to the face. He was treated at the General Hospital at Le Treport before being invalided to England and further treatment at East Leeds War Hospital, Harehills, Leeds. Making a successful recovery and after a short furlough, he was posted to the 2nd Reserve battalion and thence back to the Hawke Battalion. In May 1918 he was tried by District Court Martial for ‘absenting himself without leave’ for which he was fined two days pay. Back in France, Acting Chief Petty Officer Kent was admitted to hospital in Rouen in June 1918 suffering from severe bronchitis, for which he was again invalided to England. Recovering he again rejoined the Hawke Battalion in the field during October 1918. The redoubtable Acting Chief Petty Officer Kent was demobilised at Kinross on 2 August 1919. With copied service papers.