The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 2)

A fascinating group of eight awarded to Captain G. L. Parnell, D.S.O., O.B.E., Royal Navy, Resident Naval Officer at Baku during the Bolshevik Rebellion

Eight: Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R.; The Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) 1st type; 1914-15 Star Trio, M.I.D. (Commr. G. L. Parnell, R.N.); Defence Medal; Legion of Honour, 5th class breast badge, silver, gilt and enamels; French Croix de Guerre 1914-17, with bronze palm, mounted court style as worn, nearly extremely fine (8)

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

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D.S.O. London Gazette 8 March 1918 ‘The King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Distinguished Service Order for services in the Destroyer and Torpedo Boat Flotillas during the period ending 31 December 1917.’

O.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 11 November 1919 ‘For valuable services in connection with operations in the Caspian Sea.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 17 January 1917, for the surface action against the U.139, Captained by Armand de la Perriere, whilst commanding H.M.S. PERTH, Convoy HG 109, 1 October 1918.

Legion of Honour, 4 December 1917; Croix de Guerre, 20 December 1917.

Gerald Langdon Parnell entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet on 15 January 1894, advanced to Midshipman on 15 January 1896 and to Sub Lieutenant on 15 July 1889. He recieved five first-class certificates in Seamanship, Navigation, Pilotage, Gunnery and Torpedo. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 15 July 1900, to Commander on 31 December 1912, and to Captain on 31 December 1919. He served throughout the Great War in Destroyers, often employed on Convoy duties, including SWALE (1914), NITH (1916), and PERTH (1918). In December 1918 he was appointed to the cruiser H.M.S. THESEUS for duties in the Caspian Sea as Resident Naval Officer, Baku (awarded the O.B.E. for these services). He retired in 1923 and devoted his life to The Missions to Seamen, visiting the incumbents of lighthouses and lightships around the coast of Britain.

The group is accompanied by a most extensive archive of original documentation including:

a. Warrants and award certificates for D.S.O., O.B.E., Legion of Honour, Croix de Guerre, and mention in despatches.
b. Commission documents, qualification certificates, certificate for Wounds and Hurts 1902, and Appointments to Ships (17).
c. Midshipman’s Log compiled by the recipient between January 1898 and July 1899, whilst aboard H.M. Ships ROYAL OAK and CLEOPATRA. Extensively illustrated throughout with watercolours and sketches, and containing many interesting entries whilst stationed at Kandia during the Cretan troubles in 1898.
d. Three very good photograph albums covering Crete 1898; China 1901 with views of the British Legations, the Forbidden City, Wei-Hai-Wei and the Canton River forts; Whale Island 1903-04 with 4.7 inch Naval Gun exercises and deep sea diving; later photographs show manoeuvres at sea and the first battle practise of H.M.S. DREADNOUGHT in 1907.
e. Two further photograph albums covering his career with the Missions to Seamen.