Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War Gallipoli operations D.S.M. group of six awarded to Petty Officer Telegraphist C. H. Langley, Royal Navy, who was severely wounded during the Anzac Cove landings on 25 April 1915

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (233589 C. H. Langley, Lg. Tel., Gallipoli Opns. 1915-6); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (233589 C. H. Langley, Ord. Tel., H.M.S. Barham); 1914-15 Star (233589 C. H. Langley, L. Tel., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (233589 C. H. Langley, P.O. Tel., R.N.); Italy, Messina Medal 1908, silver, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise generally very fine (6) £1400-1600

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 the landing in the Gallipoli Peninsula in April 1915, and the evacuation in December 1915 - January 1916.’

Cecil Hensman Langley was born in Northampton in April 1889 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in April 1905.

Having then participated in rescue operations ashore at Messina in 1908, as a crew member of the battleship H.M.S. Exmouth (the published roll refers), he witnessed active service off Somaliland in the cruiser Barham (Medal & clasp), and was serving as a Leading Telegraphist in Tamar on the outbreak of hostilities.

Removing to the destroyer Chelmer in December 1914, Langley went on to witness further active service in the Dardanelles, including the bombardment of the Turkish forts on 18 March 1915, when Chelmer was hit amidships. A little over a month later, on 25 April, he was severely wounded during the landings at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, when the Chelmer came under fire while disembarking the men of the 11th Battalion, Australian Infantry - in his report of events that day, Commander H. T. England of the Chelmer noted two casualties incurred during the operation, including a ‘Leading Telegraphist severely wounded in the abdomen, by a shrapnel shell which burst over the ship’. Admitted to the Citadel Military Hospital in Cairo, Langley returned to duty in the Chelmer in August 1915, records in T.N.A. ADM 1/8420/113 further noting that he was ‘suffering from a fractured leg.’

Advanced to Petty Officer Telegraphist in August 1916, Langley remained in the Chelmer until February 1917, and his final wartime seagoing appointment was in the light cruiser Attentive, from April of the latter year until December 1918, in which period his ship was actively employed off the Belgian coast and lent support to the Ostend & Zeebrugge raids.

He was pensioned ashore March 1923, one or two stints in the cells in the early part of his career having exempted him from entitlement to the L.S. & G.C. Medal; sold with copied service record.