Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Great War ‘Siege Guns Operations’ D.S.M. group of four awarded to Able Seaman J. Fortune, Royal Navy, who was killed in action when H.M.S. Strongbow was sunk in the North Sea, 17 October 1917

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (214738. J. Fortune, A.B. Siege Guns. Belgium.) ‘Belgium’ partially officially corrected; 1914-15 Star (214738. J. Fortune. A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (214738 J. Fortune. A.B. R.N.) minor edge bruising to DSM, good very fine and better (4) £800-£1,200

D.S.M. London Gazette 7 August 1915.

James Fortune joined the Royal Navy and served during the Great War with the Royal Naval Siege Guns in France and Belgium, for which service he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 7 August 1915) and awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. He subsequently served in H.M.S. Strongbow, and was killed in action when Strongbow was sunk by the German cruisers Brummer and Bromge whilst on convoy duty 75 miles east of Lerwick, Shetland Islands, on 17 October 1917- out of a total complement of 88, 47 officers and ratings were killed. Fortune is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

The first Naval Siege guns, a 9.2-inch and two 6-inch, were 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. 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.