A Great War D.S.M. group of six awarded to Chief Petty Officer Arthur Waller, Royal Navy, for gallantry when H.M.S. Zinnia was in action with a U-boat in May 1917

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (J.15735. A. Waller. A.B. H.M.S. Zinnia. Atlantic Ocean. 4 May 1917.); 1914-15 Star (J. 15735 A. Waller. A.B. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J. 15735 A. Waller. L.S. R.N.); Jubilee 1935 (C.P.O. A. Waller); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (J. 15735 A. Waller. P.O. H.M.S. Pembroke) the first four very heavily polished on the obverse, therefore fair to fine, suspension claw tightened on the D.S.M., the Jubilee very fine (6) £900-£1,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals relating to H.M.S. Zinnia.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 11 August 1917:
‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’

The recommendation states: ‘H.M.S. Zinnia. Action with enemy submarine 4 May 1917. As Trainer with Chief Petty Officer Clifford Campbell, 191144, as Gunlayer, these men performed their duties in a highly satisfactory manner.’

C.P.O. Campbell was awarded a Bar to his D.S.M., see previous lot.

Arthur Waller was born in Hackney, London, on 21 May 1896, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. Ganges on 24 December 1911. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman in October 1913, and to Able Seaman in August 1914. He joined Zinnia on 15 September 1915, therefore bearing witness to the Easter Rising / Roger Casement affair in April 1916, when Zinnia was closely involved in the capture of the German steamer Aud, which was disguised as a Norwegian vessel. Decorated for his services in action with a German submarine on 4 May 1917, Waller continued in Zinnia until 7 January 1918. He was made Petty Officer in March 1919, advanced to Chief Petty Officer in January 1932, and was presented with the Jubilee Medal on 1 May 1935. He was still serving during the Second World War at H.M.S. President 3 when he was ‘Discharged Dead’, though it notes on his record of service ‘not due to enemy action.’