A fine Great War D.S.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant G. R. Ainslie, Royal Naval Reserve, who whilst in charge of an armed drifter in the Ionian Sea, distinguished himself in disabling an Austro-Hungarian submarine on the occasion it had attacked the S.S. Clifftower, on 29 August 1917

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1918, unnamed as issued; British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. G. R. Ainslie. R.N.R.); Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18 (George R. Ainslie); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Lieut. G. R. Ainslie. R.N.R.) good very fine (4) £1,000-£1,400

D.S.C. London Gazette 6 April 1918:
‘For Services in Action with Enemy Submarines.’

The original Recommendation states: ‘For Services on the occasion of the torpedoing of S.S. Clifftower on 29 August 1917 when he may have disabled an enemy submarine.’

George Robert Ainslie was appointed temporary Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve on 2 June 1917, and attended the Navigation School for the course in instruction in modified sweep in H.M.S. Vernon. He proceeded to Mediterranean for service in armed drifters on 21 July 1917, and served in H.M.S. Hannibal out of Alexandria. He relinquished his commission on 1 April 1919, and was decorated with his D.S.C. by H.M. the King at Buckingham Palace on 8 May 1919.

Whilst in the Ionian Sea, the S.S. Clifftower (3,509 tons) was torpedoed by the Austro-Hungarian U-boat SM U40 on 29 August 1917. However Clifftower was only damaged and was towed to Malta on 3 September. This ship was clearly repaired as it was reportedly attacked again by a U-boat on 14 May 1918 but again survived.