Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Chief Petty Officer F. Dilley, Royal Navy, who was gained special promotion for his command of an armed dhow off Somaliland in 1909 and a “mention” for services in action against enemy submarines in the Great War

China 1900, no clasp (F. Dilley, P.O. 2 Cl., H.M.S. Goliath); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (164427 F. Dilley, P.O. 1 Cl., H.M.S. Barham); 1914-15 Star (164427 F. Dilley, C.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (164472 F. Dilley, C.P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (164472 Francis Dilley, P.O. 1 Cl., H.M.S. Wildfire), edge bruising with resultant loss of last digit of number and initial on the second, and part of christian name on the last, contact marks and polished, thus generally good fine (6) £400-500

Francis Dilley was born in Nappersball, Bedfordshire, in April 1875 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in December 1891.

Attaining Petty Officer status during his time aboard H.M.S. Goliath in March 1900 to October 1903, in which period he was present in operations off China (Medal), he was specially promoted to Chief Petty Officer on 20 August 1909 ‘for meritorious services in command of an armed dhow’ while serving in the Barham off Somaliland (Medal & clasp). He had, meanwhile, been awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in May 1908.

A Chief Petty Officer serving in the depot ship Hebe on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he remained similarly employed until coming ashore to Pembroke I in February 1915, but he returned to sea in the sloop Cyclamen in April 1916 and was present in her on the occasion of the destruction of the UB-69 in the Western Mediterranean, off Bizerta, on 8 January 1918. He was mentioned in despatches ‘For services in action with enemy submarines’ (London Gazette 29 November 1918, refers). Dilley was demobilised in May 1919; sold with copied service record.