Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Captain H. V. Dundas, Royal Navy, who was mentioned in despatches and awarded the French Legion of Honour for his services as a Destroyer C.O. at Jutland

1914-15 Star (Commr., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Commr., R.N.); Coronation 1911; French Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, gilt and enamels; Spanish Order of Naval Merit, Knight’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, mounted as worn, the fifth with one or two slightly damaged arm points, otherwise generally good very fine, together with a pair of Spink & Son Jutland commemorative medallions, bronze, mounted on shields and metalled / wooden backing as part of an attractive contemporary display (8) £400-500

Harold Victor Dundas was born at Sherwood, Nottingham in February 1877 and entered the training ship Britannia in July 1891. Appointed a Midshipman in November 1893 and advanced to Lieutenant in December 1899, he was commended as a ‘particularly able Destroyer Officer’ and gained his first command of that ship type, H.M.S. Albatross, in October 1905. Similarly, in January 1906, he was appointed Captain of the destroyer Locust, in which capacity it would appear he was awarded the Spanish Order of Naval Merit - while confirming the award, his service record states that an application to wear the insignia was turned down by the Admiralty during the course of that year.

Dundas was advanced to Commander in June 1912, served as C.O. of the destroyer Cameleon from October 1914 to November 1915 and transferred his command to another destroyer, the Ossory, in the latter month. As part of the 11th Flotilla, 2nd Battle Squadron, based at Invergordon, the Ossory was present at Jutland in the following year, Dundas being commended for his services as her C.O. in the action (London Gazette 15 September 1916) and awarded the French Legion of Honour in the same month. His next command, which he held from September 1916 until March 1918, was the flotilla leader Grenville, and he ended the War with an appointment in the Convoy Section at President.

Dundas was placed on the Retired List at his own request, in the rank of Captain, in November 1923, and died in January 1942.