Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An excessively rare Palestine 1936 operations D.S.M. awarded to Marine D. Jones, Royal Marines: of just ten D.S.Ms awarded between the Wars, three were for Palestine - this example being unique to the Royal Marines

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (CH. X. 765 D. Jones, Mne., R.M., Palestine 1936), minor official correction to number, better than very fine £2500-3000

Ex Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, 16 October 1996.

D.S.M. London Gazette 18 December 1936:

‘The King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Distinguished Service Medal to Marine Dennis Jones, Official No. Chatham X765, in recognition of his gallant and distinguished services rendered in connection with operations in Palestine during the period 15 September to 14 October 1936.’

Dennis Jones was most likely decorated for services ashore, Bluejackets and Marines being landed from the Haifa’s Naval Force at the request of the Army, as trouble escalated in April 1936. Initially charged with manning two howitzers and armed lorries equipped with QF 2-pounder guns and searchlights to pick-out Arab snipers, additional Bluejacket and Marine platoons were landed in July to protect Haifa and the Jewish settlements in the surrounding countryside, nine such platoons being used to form the Haifa Town Force. And in August three further platoons were landed to assist the Palestine Police Force.

Sold with a file of research.