Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare Great War ‘Mesopotamia’ D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Commander B. C. Marsh, Royal Indian Marine, later Major, Royal Engineers

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R.; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (Sub-Lieut. B. C. Marsh R.I.M.S. Hardinge); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-14 (Lieut. B. C. Marsh, R.I.M.S. Minto); 1914-15 Star (Lieut. B. C. Marsh R.I.M.); British War and Victory Medals (Major B. C. Marsh); Coronation 1911 (Lieut. B. C. Marsh, R.I.M.S. Dufferin) mounted as worn, obverse centre depressed on the first, otherwise generally good very fine (7) £2000-2500

D.S.O. London Gazette 22 December 1916.

Bruce Cunliffe Marsh was born at Kasauli, India, on 8 September 1879, son of Major-General F. H. B. Marsh. He joined the Royal Indian Marine in February 1901 and was promoted to Lieutenant in February 1905. He was Assistant Marine Transport Officer with Force “D”, Mesopotamia, from August 1914 until September 1917, when he was seconded as a Temporary Major in the Royal Engineers, along with many other R.I.M. officers, when the Inland Water Transport took over responsibility from the Royal Indian Marine.

Marsh was mentioned in the despatch of 5 April 1916 from General Sir John Nixon on the operations in Mesopotamia from mid-April to the end of September 1915, covering the operations around Amara, 30 May to 4 June. He was also mentioned in Nixon’s despatch of 10 May 1916, covering the operations of October to December 1915, the battle of Ctesiphon and the withdrawal to Kut. He reverted to the R.I.M. in April 1918 and was appointed Senior Marine Transport Officer at Rangoon. In December 1918 he had temporary rank of Captain, R.N., aboard R.I.M.S. Dufferin. He was subsequently Port Officer at Bassein and retired on 30 May 1921. Sold with original warrant for the D.S.O., dated 22 December 1916, and copy record of service which shows 4 ‘mentions’ during the war.