A Second World War B.E.M. group of nine awarded to Chief Petty Officer D. Ashenden, Royal Navy

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (C.P.O.David Ashenden C/239819); 1914-15 Star (239819 L.S. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (239819 P.O. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (239819 P.O. H.M.S. Marlborough) mounted as worn, some with edge bruising and contact marks, fine and better (9) £350-400

B.E.M. London Gazette 8 June 1944.

Recommendation reads: ‘Recommended for excellent service as Chief Bosun’s Mate of H.M.S. Cyclops since the outbreak of war. He is a fine seaman and his alertness, drive and cheerfulness have been a great asset in the ship. He has been of great service in training the younger ratings whom he is always willing to teach’.

David Ashenden was born in Lewisham, London on 21 August 1891. Joining the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in October 1907, he was advanced to Boy 1st Class in October 1908. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in August 1909 and to Able Seaman in March 1911. At the beginning of the war he was based at H.M.S. Attentive II (Dover) and was advanced to Leading Seaman in February 1915 and Petty Officer in June 1916. Based at Attentive, he served on the destroyer H.M.S. Cossack, February 1916-July 1917 and again April 1918-January 1919. As such he was in action against German torpedo boats on the night of 26/27 October 1916. His first period of service on Cossack ended soon after an incident on 1 July 1917 when the destroyer collided with the transport S.S. The Duchess, near Eastbourne. Cossack’s depth charges exploded as a result of the collision - sinking The Duchess and blowing the stern off Cossack. After being repaired the Cossack found itself on 16 September 1918 with the unhappy duty of being required to torpedo and sink the burning monitor H.M.S. Glatton in Dover harbour when it was feared it might detonate further explosions on a nearby ammunition ship. The destroyer fired two torpedoes - one of which failed to explode, the other failed to pierce the monitor’s anti-torpedo bulges. A further torpedo from another destroyer was required to sink the stricken vessel. Less exciting service followed after the war and serving on the battleship H.M.S. Marlborough Ashenden was awarded the long service medal in September 1924. Ashenden attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer in May 1925. During the Second World War Ashenden served extensively on the submarine repair and depot ship H.M.S. Cyclops - his services on which vessel earned him the B.E.M. With copied research.