Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria to coincide with the OMRS Convention

A Zeebrugge D.S.M. group of six awarded to Chief Petty Officer F. W. Forster, Royal Navy, for services aboard H.M.S. Phoebe on the night of 22nd/23rd April 1918

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (182600 F. W. Forster, C.P.O. “Phoebe” Zeebrugge-Ostend. 22-3 Apl. 1918); China 1900, no clasp (Lg. Smn. H.M.S. Dido); 1914-15 Star (182600 C.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (182600 C.P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (182600 P.O., H.M.S. St George) good very fine or better (6) £1400-1600

D.S.M. London Gazette 23 July 1918: ‘For services during the operations against Zeebrugge and Ostend on the night of the 22nd-23rd April, 1918.’ Chief Petty Officer Frederick William Forster, H.M.S. Phoebe. One of only three D.S.M’s awarded to this destroyer for Zeebrugge.

The flagship Warwick plus the destroyers Phoebe and North Star were detailed to patrol inside the harbour at Zeebrugge, to protect the landing party ships. During the night Phoebe took on board Lieutenant Sandford and three of his crew, all wounded, from the submarine ‘C 3’. Later she made a desperate and gallant attempt to tow the badly disabled North Star to safety. Under constant shell fire the tow parted and, with an unfavourable shift in the wind, it was decided to abandon North Star and transfer her men to Phoebe. Whilst alongside, Phoebe had one man killed and fifteen wounded, who had been rescued from North Star, and three of her own ship’s company killed and two wounded. Sold with copy service record.