Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Gallipoli Operations’ D.S.M. group of five awarded to Chief Skipper George Lawrence, Royal Naval Reserve
Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (B3814 Sean. R.N.R., Gallipoli Opns. 1915-6); 1914-15 Star (B.3814 Smn., R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (3814B 2 Hd., R.N.R.); Royal Naval Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, ‘coinage head’ (2317 W.S., Skr., R.N.R.) mounted as worn, good very fine (5) £800-1000

D.S.M. London Gazette 15 May 1916. ‘... in recognition of services rendered by Petty Officers and Men of the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron between the time of landing in the Gallipoli Peninsula in April, 1915, and the evacuation in December, 1915-January 1916.’

George Lawrence was born in Brixham on 14 August 1885. As an experienced hand serving aboard trawlers, he entered the Great War as a Seaman with the Royal Naval Reserve. As such he was awarded the D.S.M. for his services in the Gallipoli Operations of 1915-16. He was serving aboard the battleship Majestic when she was sunk off Cape Helles, Gallipoli, by the German submarine U-21 on 27 May 1915 - it is quite possible that he was awarded the D.S.M. for his bravery during this action. In February 1916 he was based at the R.N. Depot at Port Said but for most of the remainder of the war he was based at Vivid (Devonport), December 1916-August 1918. In December 1918 he gained his Certificate of Competency as a Skipper of Fishing Vessels, his address at that time being ‘11 Church Street, Brixham’. Lawrence was appointed a Skipper in the R.N.R. in July 1924 and Chief Skipper in the R.N.R. in July 1934.

With original Discharge Certificate, 1904; Certificate of Competency as Skipper, 1918; Commission Document appointing him Skipper, R.N.R., 1924; Certificate of Discharge, 1932; Commission Document appointing him Chief Skipper, R.N.R., 1934, and copied service papers. See lot 1316 for his son’s medals.