Auction Catalogue
Create new listA scarce R.N. Siege Guns D.S.M. group of five awarded to Wireman S. F. Heath, Royal Navy
Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (M.17482 S. F. Heath, Wrn. 1Cl. R.N. Siege Guns. Flanders 1917); 1914-15 Star (M.17482 Wmn. 2 R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M.17482 Wmn. 2 R.N.); Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (Samuel Foxall Heath D.S.M.) very fine (5) £600-700
D.S.M. London Gazette 16 March 1918: ‘For services with the Royal Naval Siege Guns in France.’
M.I.D. London Gazette 11 December 1917.
Samuel Foxall Heath was born in Birmingham on 6 August 1889. An electrician by trade, he joined up on 24 November 1915 for the period of the hostilities, being rated as a Wireman 2nd Class ‘for service in land operations.’ He served in France as a Wireman 1st Class with the R.N. Siege Guns from 1 March 1917 until 13 June 1918, and was demobilised on 16 January 1919.
The first Naval Siege guns, a 9.2-inch and two 6-inch, where landed in France in 1914, and served under Commander H. C. Halahan, R.N., who was later killed at Zeebrugge. In the summer of 1915 four short 9.2's Mark VI were landed from the monitors which, due to their relatively short range had been found unsuited for coastal bombardment, and were mounted well up at the front near Nieuport Bails. Two of the guns known as ‘Eastney’ and ‘Barbara’ were mounted in concrete pits, the other two, mounted at first in the open, were afterwards similarly protected and became ‘Carnac Battery’. ‘Barbara’ and ‘Carnac’ were manned by the Royal Navy; ‘Eastney’ was manned by the R.M.A. under Captain J. H. Hollingsworth.The whole unit formed the Royal Naval Siege Guns.
During August 1916 the R.N. officers and men manning the Naval Guns began to be withdrawn. This was brought about by the demands of the anti-submarine war which caused such a great demand for the services of all regular Naval officers and men afloat as to make it imperative that none should be employed on shore on work for which efficient substitutes could be found. As officers and men of the R.M.A. became available they were sent to the siege guns.
In addition to these large calibre guns, eight 7.5-inch guns from H.M.S. Swiftsure were landed and mounted, on ship’s pivot mountings, well forward near Oost Dunkerke to assist in counter battery work. The R.N. Siege Guns continued during 1917 as a separate unit under Captain Halahan, R.N., but their personnel was gradually replaced by Marines until, in February 1918, they were entirely Marine manned, and were absorbed into the R.M.A. Heavy Siege Train.
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