Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Great War D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Chief Stoker F. J. Cardew, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (281413 F. J. Cardew, Ch. Sto., H.M.S. Delphinium, 1917); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (F. I. Cardew, Sto., H.M.S. Highflyer); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (281413 F. J. Cardew, Ch. Sto., H.M.S. Fox); 1914-15 Star (281413 F. J. Cardew, Ch. Sto., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (281413 F. J. Cardew, Ch. Sto., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (281413 F. J. Cardew, Actg. Ch. Sto., H.M.S. Fox), edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (7) £800-1000

D.S.M. London Gazette 6 April 1918:

‘The following awards have been approved for services in vessels of the Royal Navy employed on patrol and escort duty during the period 1 January to 31 December 1917.’

Francis Joseph Cardew was born in Carmarthenshire in April 1875 and entered the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class in January 1896. He subsequently witnessed active service off Somaliland in H.M.S. Highflyer in 1902-03 (Medal & clasp) and in the Persian Gulf in H.M.S. Fox in 1912-15 (Medal & clasp), and was awarded his L.S. & G.C. in the latter ship in October 1913. The same period witnessed his advancement to Stoker Petty Officer in August 1907 and to Acting Chief Stoker in October 1912, and he was confirmed in the latter rate in October 1913.

In February 1916, Cardew removed to the Arabis-class sloop Delphinium, in which ship he was awarded his D.S.M. for convoy and patrol work and remained actively engaged until the War’s end. He finally came ashore in the summer of 1919; sold with copied service record.