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

Three: Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (Deal/11264.(S) Pte. A/Cpl. G. E. Hanham, R.M.L.C. Dunkirk. 6 Aug.1918); British War and Victory Medals (Deal 11264-S-Act. Cpl. G. E. Hanham, R.M.) contact marks, otherwise very fine and rare (3)

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 17 February 1918 ‘The following awards have been approved.’

The following incident report on which the D.S.M. recommendation was based has been taken from war diaries:

‘On the night of 6/7 August 1918, the Port of Dunkirk was heavily bombed by enemy aircraft. In addition to extensive damage in the dock area several huts of the Royal Marine Labour Corps were demolished and set on fire. Captain H. V. Fuller, R.M.L.I., without regard to his own safety rallied a number of NCOs and men and worked to release those men who had been trapped. The work of rescuing the wounded and extinguishing the fire was carried out at great personal risk by all concerned as bombs were continuing to fall in the area.’

For their courage and bravery during this incident Captain H. V. Fuller R.M. was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and Corporal G. E. Hanham received the Distinguished Service Medal. A total of seven D.S.M’s were won by members of the Royal Marine Labour Corps during the Great War.