Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War Mediterranean operations D.S.C. group of six awarded to Commander R. M. Stopford, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1918; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. R. M. Stopford, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. R. M. Stopford, R.N.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, generally good very fine (6) £1200-1500

D.S.C. London Gazette 17 May 1918:

‘For services on the Mediterranean Station’.

The original recommendation states:

‘He has been responsible for all duties connected with the movements of ships now carried out by the Patrol Commander. He performed good service in berthing, or beaching, damaged ships.’



Robert Maurice Stopford was born in July 1890, a scion of the Earls of of Courtown, and entered the Royal Navy as a Midshipman in September 1906.

Advanced to Lieutenant in November 1911, he joined the armed merchant cruiser H.M.S. Dufferin on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, and remained similarly employed on the East Indies Station until removing to the Theseus on the Mediterranean Station in June 1915. Theseus carried out several notable bombardments in this period, her targets including Dedeagatch on 21 October 1915, Anzac in December of the same year and, similarly, Helles in January 1916, during the evacuation. Stopford remained in Theseus until the War’s end, although his navigating qualifications clearly caused him to undertake additional duties, such as those cited in his D.S.C. recommendation. He was advanced to Lieutenant-Commander in November 1919.

Placed on the Retired List at his own request in the rank of Commander in July 1933, Stopford took up appointment as Assistant Drafting Officer at Portsmouth, in which capacity he remained employed in the 1939-45 War. He died in November 1978.

Sold with a quantity of research, included copied service record.