The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 1)

Pair: Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (J.50949 J. G. Vigor, Ord. Sean. H.M.S. Himalaya. E. Africa 18 Apl. 1917); French Croix de Guerre 1914-17, with bronze palm, nearly extremely fine (2)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 20 October 1918 “The following awards have been made.”

The following recommendation was extracted from Admiralty records: ‘Officers and men of the Royal Navy who have rendered good service in connection with the military operations in East Africa in April 1917 (Recommendations sent in by Lieutenant General J. L. Van Deventer, C.B., Commanding in Chief the Forces in East Africa): Ordinary Seaman Vigor of H.M.S. Himalaya - served ashore with the Lewis guns.’

On 18 April a force of 400 of the 40th Pathans, 200 of the King’s African Rifles, and two mountain guns of the Gold Coast Regiment, attacked a body of the enemy which had advanced to within a few miles of Rumbo. The enemy proved to be in strength and, after a sharp action of several hours, in which the losses on both sides were considerable, our force retired to Rumbo and entrenched. Although the attack failed in its immediate object, it had the effect of relieving the Kilwa force of any further pressure from this direction.
John George Vigor was awarded the French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 14 September 1917, the original Award Certificate for which is sold with the lot.