Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The group of five miniature dress medals attributed to Commander Sir Cuthbert Blake, Bt., Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., gold and enamel, with integral top riband bar; 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-20, 3 clasps, North Sea 1915, Jutland 31 May 16, Narrow Seas 1917; Victory Medal 1914-19, with M.I.D. oakleaf; Russia, Imperial, Order of St. Anne, with Swords, silver-gilt and enamel, mounted as worn, good very fine (5) £240-280

Sir Cuthbert Patrick Blake, Bt. was born at Pimlico, London, on 2 January 1885, the son of Sir Patrick Blake, 5th Baronet, and entered the Royal Navy as Midshipman on 15 May 1900, serving in H.M.S. Britannia. Commissioned Sub Lieutenant, 15 December 1904, he was promoted Lieutenant on 1 April 1907 and Lieutenant-Commander on 1 April 1915. He served during the Great War in command of the destroyer H.M.S. Termagant, was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 6 July 1916), and took part in the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916: Vice-Admiral Sir Daid Beatty reported that, ‘having defeated the enemy destroyers, he gallantly pressed home the attack with torpedoes on the enemy battle-cruisers’ (London Gazette 15 September 1916), and Blake was consequently awarded the D.S.O. and the Russian Order of St. Anne, 3rd Class, with Swords, ‘for distinguished service rendered in the Battle of Jutland’ (London Gazette 5 June 1917). Several times recommended for promotion during the Great War, he was finally promoted Commander on 3 January 1928. He succeeded his father as 6th Baronet of the Baronetcy Blake of Langham on 15 January 1930, and died, heirless, at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, on 27 June 1975.