Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Great War Mespotamia operations D.S.C. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Commander G. A. Feilman, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, late Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who was decorated for his gallant deeds in the gunboat Tarantula on the Tigris during the advance on Baghdad in early 1917

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1917, the reverse privately inscribed, ‘Lieut. G. A. Feilman, R.N.V.R., Mesopotamia, 22nd February 1917’; British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. G. A. Feilman, R.N.V.R.); Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18 (G. A. Feilman), an official late claim, circa 1940; Victory Medal 1914-19, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut. G. A. Feilman, R.N.V.R.); Defence Medal 1939-45, cupro-nickel; Canadian Voluntary Service Medal 1939-45, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, cupro-nickel, mounted as worn, generally good very fine (7) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte.

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D.S.C. London Gazette 21 September 1917:

‘For coolness and resource under very heavy fire, in firing with machine-guns on Turkish infantry and machine-guns, when all other men were employed in working the main armament of 6-inch, 12-pounder and pom-poms.’

Gerald Alfred Feilman was appointed a Temporary Sub. Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in November 1915, an appointment that he deferred at his own request until February 1916, when he joined the Insect-class gunboat H.M.S. Tarantula - quite possibly on account of commitments with the Mercantile Marine. Be that as it may, he quickly witnessed active service on the Tigris, not least in the advance on Bagdad in early 1917, in which operations he won his D.S.C. - an excellent account of the flotilla at work maybe found in Tigris Gunboats by Wilfred Nunn.

As stated by Vice-Admiral R. E. Wemyss in his despatch dated 21 March 1917, the advance on the right bank of the Tigris commenced in December 1916, when our troops secured Shatt al Hal, and Tarantula, under Commander H. G. Sherbrooke, R.N., thereafter played a crucial role in lending close artillery support to our troops ashore. Early in the new year, however, our forces were held up by extremely strong opposition from the Turks at Sannaiyat. The Admiral’s despatch takes up the story:

‘Operations proceeded in a most satisfactory manner, and early in February our forces were in possession of the right bank as far as to the westward of Kut el Amara, with bridges over the Hai, large numbers of prisoners having been taken, guns captured, and heavy loss inflicted on the enemy.

After intense bombardment, in which the gunboats co-operated, a successful assault of the Sannaiyat position was made on 22 February, and a footing obtained in the Sannaiyat position. Dur ing the night of the 22nd-23rd dummy attempts were made to cross the river in various places above Sannaiyat, and just before daybreak of the 23rd covering parties were rowed across the Tigris near Shumran in pontoons, a surprise landing effected, and a bridge thrown across.

By evening the infantry of one division had crossed, and another followed, the enemy trying ineffectually to stem the British advance on the Shumran peninsula.

Meanwhile our troops were pushing forward boldly through the Sannaiyat position.

The whole Turkish position was manifestly becoming untenable, and they commenced a general retreat, which developed later into a rout.

I was present at the operations on board H.M.S. Tarantula ... and on the forenoon of 24 February I moved up river with Tarantula, Moth, Mantis, Butterfly and Gadfly, and arrived at Kut el Amara at 9.30 p.m., where I landed and hoisted the Union Jack.

The town was deserted and in ruins. Early on the morning of the 25th I moved on up river and communicated with our troops near Shumran.

Floating mines had been seen in the river, but were easily avoided.

During the morning I received a message from the Army Commander asking me to co-operate in pursuing the retreating Turkish Army, and I pressed on up river. We were abreast of our leading Infantry at about 9.30 a.m. and in sight of the Turkish rearguard, on which we at once opened with rapid fire, inflicting heavy casualties. This the enemy soon returned, opening an accurate fire on us with field batteries, and several 5.9 howitzers from a prepared position among the sand hills in the neighbourhood of Imam Mahdi. Our troops were advancing, and some of our field artillery considerably relieved the situation by the rapidity with which they came into action.

The battle continued, during the day - all ships being hit by splinters of shell - but luckily no serious damage was done.

Lieutenant John H. Murdock, R.N.R., of H.M.S. Mantis, was somewhat severely wounded in the afternoon.

The enemy evacuated their position during the night, and we pushed on with the Army in pursuit on the morning of 26 February.

It soon became evident that the Turkish Army was much demoralised, and I received a message by W./T. from General Sir F. S. Maude during the forenoon to push on and inflict as much damage as possible.

We proceeded at full speed in Tarantula, leading Mantis and Moth, and H.M. ships Gadfly and Butterfly following at their utmost speed.

My flotilla passed the small town of Bghailah at 2 p.m. White flags were flying over the town, and later on Commander Ernest K. Arbuthnot, of  Gadfly hoisted the Union Jack over the town, bringing in also about 200 prisoners and some trench mortars.

Just above Bghailah we now began to come up to numbers of Turkish stragglers on the left bank of the Tigris, and some guns partially submerged in the river, where they had been abandoned. We opened fire on all who did not surrender.

The smoke of steamers had been seen ahead, and we were soon able to distinguish several steamers, including H.M.S. Firefly, which we had to abandon on 1st December 1915, when her boiler was disabled by a shell during the retreat from Ctesiphon and we were surrounded by the Turkish Army.

We shortly afterwards got into gun range of the small shipping and opened a heavy fire, particularly on Firefly and the armed enemy ship Pioneer, who both replied. The Firefly made some good shooting at us with her 4-inch gun.

The Turks retreating on the left bank were becoming more numerous; they now had our cavalry division in pursuit of them on their right flank and the gunboats on their left.

The enemy were firing at us from three directions, and on approaching Nahr Kellak bend I observed a large body of enemy on the left bank at the head of the loop in the river, and gave orders for all guns to be fired on them.

They proved to be a strong rearguard, and opened on us with field and machine-guns and heavy rifle fire. At this close range there were casualties in all ships, who were all hit many times, but our guns must have caused immense damage to the enemy, as we were at one time firing 6-inch guns into them at about 400 to 500 yards.

Besides the Turkish Artillery there were a large number of enemy with rifles and machine-guns behind the bend at a range of about 100 yards from the ships.

In the act of turning round the bend shot came from all directions, and casualties of Moth, which came last in the line, were particularly severe.

There were casualties in all three ships, Moth, which was magnificently handled by Lieutenant-Commander Charles H. A. Cartwright, who was himself wounded, had three officers wounded - all severely - out of four, and two men killed and eighteen wounded, which is about 50 per cent, of her complement.

She was hit eight times by shell - one from ahead hit the fore side of stoke hold casing, burst, and pierced the port boiler, both front and back, but luckily missed the boiler tubes. The after compartment was holed below the water line, and the upper deck and funnels of all ships riddled with bullets.

The quartermaster and pilot in the conning tower of H.M.S. Mantis were killed, but the prompt action of her Captain saved her from running ashore. I consider that the excellent spirit of the men and skilful handling of the ships by their Captains in a difficult and unknown shallow river were most praiseworthy.

We thus passed the enemy rearguard, and large numbers of the retreating Turkish Army were on our starboard beam. I opened rapid fire from all guns that would hear (this included heavy and light guns, pom-poms, maxims, and rifles), and at this short range we did enormous execution, the enemy being too demoralised to reply, except in a very few cases.

We were also able to shoot down some of their gun teams, which they deserted, and several guns thus fell into the hands of our forces when going over this ground.

The vessels ahead were now in easy range, and several small craft stopped and surrendered, including the armed tug Sumana, which we had left at Kut during the siege, and had been captured at the fall of that place.

About 5.20 p.m. the large Turkish steamer Basra stopped and surrendered when brought to by a shell from H.M.S. Tarantula, which had, I was afterwards informed, killed and wounded some German machine-gunners. The Firefly kept up a heavy fire from her 4-inch gun, but our reply began to tell on her, and having been hit several times she ran into the bank and fell into our hands about 6.15 p.m. in the north-west part of the Zaljah reach, to westward of Umm al Tubul.

The Pioneer having been badly hit by Mantis, was in flames near her, and some barges laden with munitions in the vicinity.

The Turks had endeavoured to set fire to the Firefly's magazine, but we were able to put it out and took possession of her at once, and I put a prize crew on board and hoisted the White Ensign.

Darkness now came on, and I considered it inadvisable to go on further, as we were far ahead of our troops.

I placed Lieutenant John P. Bradley, R.N.R., of H.M.S. Proserpine, in temporary command of H.M.S. Firefly, with a small crew, and we moved out of the way of the burning Pioneer, anchored for the night, and buried our men who had been killed.

We remained in the vicinity the following day, and I sent the Moth back to Basra for repairs, and the prizes down river. The advance of our Army continued, and we reached Aziziyah on 1 March. Here the Turks had abandoned more guns and again retreated. I was joined here by H.M.S. Waterfly.

The pursuit was continued on 5 March, and our cavalry again engaged the enemy rearguard near Lajj, but we were unable to distinguish anything owing to a dense sandstorm.

We arrived at Ctesiphon on the 6th, finding the strong position there deserted, and next day arrived in gun-range of the enemy position on the north bank of the Dialah River, which joins the Tigris on the left bank about eight miles below Baghdad.

In attacking this position we again came under heavy fire from the Turkish guns, to which we briskly replied. During the night of the 10th-11th the enemy evacuated the position, as some of our troops had crossed the Dialah, and others were carrying out a wide flanking movement on the right bank to the south-west and west of Baghdad.

An attempt had also been made to send two motor lighters full of troops to land them on the left bank above the Dialah on the night of 10 March. One of them, however, grounded in the shallow river in gun range of the enemy. I sent H.M. Ships Tarantula and Snakefly to assist, and Tarantula rendered valuable assistance by extricating the motor lighter from her dangerous position before daylight.

The Baghdad railway was seized early on the 11 March.’

Initially mentioned in Lieutenant-General Maude’s despatch dated 10 April 1917, Feilman was advanced to the temporary rank of Lieutenant in August 1917 and received a further “mention” (London Gazette 21 September 1917 refers), in addition to the D.S.C.

He was finally demobilised in August 1919, having served in Tarantula on the China Station in the previous year, but was recalled on the renewal of hostilities and served as a Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Sold with the recipient’s original M.I.D. certificates, dated 10 April and 21 September 1917, together with Ministry of Shipping authority to wear certificate for his Mercantile Marine War Medal, dated 23 July 1940, and Admiralty issuance certificate for his Defence and War Medals.