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

Six: Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (Regulating P.O. B. C. Lilley, D/M.40029) engraved naming; 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. 2nd issue (R.P.O. H.M.S. Tamar) extremely fine (6)

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 2 July 1946 “For distinguished service during the Defence of Hong Kong and whilst prisoner of war in enemy hands.”

The following information was supplied by the recipient’s family: ‘Following the fall of Hong Kong, R.P.O. Lilly led a party of sailors into the hills and held out for nearly four weeks before being captured. En-route to Japan as a P.O.W. the ship was torpedoed and badly damaged by an American submarine. Whilst working as a P.O.W. in Japan he had to rely on food thrown to him by passers-by.’

Bernard Charles Lilley was born in West Ham, London, on 8 February 1907. He joined the service as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. IMPREGNABLE on 30 May 1923. He subsequently served aboard VALIANT (1924-26) where he was advanced to A.B. during October 1925, CLEMATIS (1927-29) and advanced to Acting Leading Seaman on 12 May 1932 prior to joining NORFOLK (1932-35), and CALEDON (1935-36) where he was made an Acting Petty Officer during December 1935. He was accepted as an Acting Regulating Petty Officer (R.P.O.) during April 1936, to serve aboard LEANDER (1936-37). Drafted to the Far East aboard TAMAR (February 1939-May 1940) where he received his L.S. & G.C. award on 3 April 1940, and after a few months aboard DAUNTLESS returned to TAMAR, only to be taken as a prisoner of war by the Japanese on 12 December 1941. Whilst a P.O.W. on the books of DRAKE he received advancement to Master at Arms (M.A.A.) on 22 July 1942. He was finally pensioned on 24 May 1947. Having lost his L.S. & G.C. medal at the fall of Hong Kong, he was subsequently presented with an official replacement medal. The lot is accompanied by his original Certificate of Service, Admiralty Fleet Orders announcing the award of the D.S.M., and an interesting photograph album following the Spring cruise of H.M.S. NORFOLK in 1933.