Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Temporary Sub-Lieutenant E. E. Lusher, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf, these unnamed; Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (T/Sub Lieut. Edwin E. Lusher, R.N.V.R. 24th June 1944) with bronze buckle on ribbon; Royal Life Saving Society Medal, bronze, reverse inscribed, ‘E. E. Lusher, Sept. 1928’, with detached ribbon bearing ‘1933’ bar and ‘R.L.S.S.’ brooch bar; together with mounted miniature dress medals of the first six, nearly extremely fine (13) £160-200

Temporary Sub-Lieutenant Edwin Ernest Lusher, R.N.V.R., serving aboard the cruiser H.M.S. Arethusa, was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal in bronze for successfully effecting a rescue off the French coast on 24 June 1944. During the Normandy Landings, the ship had been part of the bombarding force supporting the landing at Sword Beach. On 25 June 1944, while steaming off the landing beaches the ship was damaged when an enemy aircraft dropped a mine nearby. The mine exploded in its wake causing the ship internal damage.

Seedie’s Roll lists the award of a mention in despatches to Temporary Sub Lieutenant Lusher, R.N.V.R., H.M.S. Arethusa, for a rescue involving a landing craft off the French coast, 24 June 1944 but provides no London Gazette date.