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

Five: George Cross, the reverse officially inscribed (A.B. George Paterson Niven, O.N. J.26679., 1st January 1930) together with its Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star; War Medal, good very fine (5)

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

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Medal of the Order of the British Empire, Military Division, For Gallantry (E.G.M.) London Gazette 1 January 1930: Midshipman ANTHONY JOHN COBHAM, R.N., and Able Seaman GEORGE PATERSON NIVEN, R.N.

“On the 26th. July 1929, H.M.S. DEVONSHIRE was carrying out full calibre firing, when at the first salvo there was a heavy explosion aft which blew off the roof of one of the turrets. When the explosion occurred, Midshipman Cobham immediately took stretcher parties aft and ordered one crew to follow him and the other crew to rig hoses. When he reached the turret some very badly burnt men with their clothes still on fore were falling out of the hatch in the rear. He and Able Seaman Niven did what they could for them and then went into the gunhouse, where there was still a lot of cordite burning fiercely, and pulled out more bodies, after which they turned on the hoses and helped to cool things down. Though they did not realise it at the time they had both inhaled a large quantity of cordite fumes which had a most unpleasant delayed action effect.”

In March 1942 Midshipman Cobham and Able Seaman Niven attended an Investiture together at Buckingham Palace to have their E.G.M’s exchanged for the George Cross. Able Seaman Niven died on 2 January 1947.