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

Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., 2nd type with fixed suspension (J.103009 C. Beese, A.B. H.M.S. Kiawo. Wanhsien. 5.9.26) impressed naming, edge bruises and nicks, therefore nearly very fine and very rare

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

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C.G.M. London Gazette 16 May 1927. The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the following decorations and medals to officers and men of H.M. Navy and the Mercantile Marine, in recognition of their services at WANHSIEN, Yangtze River, China, on 5 September 1926, and the connected events: C.G.M. Able Seaman Clifford Breese, H.M.S. Kiawo, “for conspicuous courage amongst the survivors of the boarding party.”

This extremely rare award was given for gallantry during the Civil War in China. The Steamer WANLIU, owned by Messrs Butterfield & Wire, got into difficulties with General Yang Sen's soldiers at Yunyang. The Chinese claimed that two sampans were capsized by the wash of the WANLIU, several soldiers being drowned and many thousands of dollars which were on board being lost. The Captain of the WANLIU denied this, and stated that his ship was boarded by armed soldiers, and that his vessel was fired on whilst endeavouring to escape. As a reprisal General Yan Sen (one of Wu Pei Fu’s supporters), seized the two Butterfield ships WAHNSIEN and WANTING at the port of Wanhsien, placing 300 soldiers aboard the vessels, and locking the officers in their cabins.

The Royal Navy Gunboats COCKCHAFER and WIDGEON with the Steamer KIAWO, the latter owned by Messrs Matheson & Co, but taken over by the Royal Navy, manned by 4 Naval officers and 60 men, attempted to rescue the seized ships. They came, however, under very heavy fire from field guns, machine guns, and rifles, and although they replied to the fire vigorously, they were compelled to withdraw in the face of the superior odds. The Commander of COCKCHAFER and 5 men were wounded, but the crew of the KIAWO, which attempted a boarding, suffered very heavily. Three Officers and four men were killed, one Officer and eight men were wounded, including Able Seaman Beese.

The foreign officers on the captured steamers were rescued, with the exception of Mr Johnson, Chief engineer of the WANTING, who was drowned whilst attempting to swim with his Chief Officer to a French gunboat. Petty Officer F.W. Warburton, of H.M.S. KIAWO, was also awarded the C.G.M., when he took command of the boarding party after Lieut A. R. Higgins R.N. was killed during this action. These two C.G.M.s were the only awards of this rare medal made between the period 1920 and the Second World War, and being peacetime awards are of great rarity. Awards for the action at Wanhsien, in addition to these two C.G.M.’s, were two D.S.C.’s, four D.S.M.’s and 28 mentions in despatches.

The original Admiralty Appreciation Signal of the Wahnsien incident accompanies the C.G.M. and reads as follows:
Admiralty to Commander in Chief, China.
“Having received your telegraphic report of the expedition to Wanhsien on Sunday 5 September, Their Lordships, while deeply regretting the loss of valuable lives and the number of casualties suffered, note that the traditional gallantry of H.M. Service was fully sustained by all Officers and Ratings who took part in the hazardous expedition which resulted in the extrication of H.M.S. COCKCHAFER from her dangerous position and the rescue, with one exception, of the British Mercantile Marine Officers of the two Steamers. Their Lordships desire that an expression of their warm appreciation may be conveyed to all Officers and Ratings concerned.”