A rare Great War Transport Officer’s O.B.E. group of six awarded to Captain S. de B. Lockyer, Royal Naval Reserve, who commanded the hospital ship Simla during the Boer War

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; Transport Medal 1899-1902, 1 clasp, S. Africa 1899-1902 (S. de B. Lockyer, In Command); 1914-15 Star (Commr. S. de B. Lockyer, R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Commr. S. de B. Lockyer, R.N.R.); Royal Naval Reserve Decoration, G.V.R., silver-gilt, silver, hallmarks for London 1918, very fine or better (6) £1000-1200

O.B.E. London Gazette 4 July 1919:

‘In recognition of the services of the under mentioned officers of the Royal Naval Transport Service during the War.’

Sydney de Bohum Lockyer was born in Middlesex in 1855 and took his Master’s certificate in Liverpool in 1887, while employed by the P. & O. Steamship Company. He subsequently commanded the S.S. Simla in South African waters during the Boer War, which ship had accommodation for 278 sick or wounded, and was presented with his Transport Medal & clasp by King Edward VII at a ceremony held in November 1903.

Meanwhile, in his capacity as a qualified ship’s master, he had been commissioned as a Sub. Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve, and had risen to the rank of Commander before being placed on the Retired List in October 1901. Duly recalled on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he went to sea in the following year and, by the end of hostilities was serving as a Transport Officer 1st Grade, in which capacity he was awarded the O.B.E. Awarded the R.N.R. Decoration (London Gazette 14 May 1918, refers), Lockyer reverted to the Retired List, upon which he was advanced to Captain prior to his death in July 1924.

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