A Great War ‘Caspian Sea’ D.S.M. group of four awarded to Able Seaman H. G. Clark, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (J.11321 H. G. Clark. A.B. Caspian Sea 1918-1919); 1914-15 Star (J.11321 H. G. Clark. A.B. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.11321 H. G. Clark. A.B. R.N.) together with aluminium identity disc, a little polished, otherwise better than very fine (4) £1000-1200

D.S.M. London Gazette 11 November 1919: ‘The following awards have been approved for services in the Caspian Sea 1918, 1919.’

Harry George Clark was born at Leyton, Essex, in 1895, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Seaman in January 1911.

At the start of the Great War he was serving in the cruiser H.M.S. Lancaster. Other wartime seagoing appointments included the battleships H.M.S. King Edward VII (November 1915 to January 1916) and H.M.S. Royal Oak (1st May to December 1916), seeing service at Jutland in the latter warship.

From August 1917 he was borne aboard the books of H.M.S. Europa, while actually serving in the Mediterranean on the Monitor M22. From here he was one of the handful of sailors who were co-opted for the expedition to the Caspian, travelling overland in trucks and trains in somewhat primitive conditions.

In the Caspian Harry Clark formed one of the scratch crew of the converted oiler H.M.S. Venture, and would have been aboard her for the Caspian Flotilla’s major action, the attack on Bolshevik forces in the port of Alexandrovsk in May 1919. His name is included in the list of men Commodore Norris wished ‘brought to notice for the work they have done on behalf of the expedition’.

The presence of British sailors in this out of the way little campaign came about because of Allied concerns to safeguard access to the Baku oil fields and stockpiles of cotton on the opposite shore of the Caspian. Additionally, there was a specifically British interest in the potential effect of turmoil in the Caucasus on the security of India - it was of importance to have stable and friendly regimes in the region. Very few troops could be spared, but small numbers to stiffen local forces and help with their training and organisation might further these aims. Naval involvement included the use of Motor Boats, and the conversion of ramshackle local trading vessels into a makeshift force.

Returning to regular service in August 1919, Clark was promoted Petty Officer, and spent 18 months aboard the cruiser H.M.S. Dragon, before his discharge on medical grounds in June 1922. Sold with a computer disk containing record of service and other research.

Revised estimate £1500-1800