Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.S.M. group of six awarded to Chief Petty Officer E. King, Royal Navy, for his gallantry aboard H.M. Armed Trawler Eske during 1916

Distinguished Service Medal G.V.R. (146513. E. King, C.P.O. H.M. Tr. Eske. Aux. Patrol. 1916): East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1891-2 (E. King, A.B, H.M.S. Widgeon.); 1914-15 Star (146513, E. King, C.P.O. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (146513 E. King. C.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (146513 Edward King, C.P.O., H.M.S. Tamar.) mounted court-style, good very fine (6) £700-£900

D.S.M. London Gazette 27 June 1917:
‘In recognition of their services in vessels of the Auxiliary Patrol between the 1st February and 31st December, 1916.’

Edward King was born in Boulge, Suffolk, on 21 April 1872, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 13 September 1888. He initially served on H.M.S. Impregnable, before joining H.M.S Ganges on 1 July 1891. Several ships followed, until joining H.M.S. Widgeon on 19 April 1898. With this ship, initially as an Ordinary and then an Able Seaman, he saw service in West Africa. Leaving H.M.S. Widgeon on 21 August 1899, he served on a large number of ships up until 31 March 1906, having attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer in November 1900, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 8 November 1905. Signing on for further service, between 1906 and 26 April 1912 he again saw service in a large number of ships. He transferred to the Reserve on 4 May 1912, but was recalled to service following the outbreak of the Great War, and served in H.M.S. Columbine from 2 August 1914 until 14 January 1915. He spent the rest of the War on the books of H.M.S. Pembroke and H.M.S Actaeon, and was discharged on 8 February 1919.

H.M.S. Pembroke and H.M.S Actaeon were both shore based establishments and during much of this period, Chief Petty Officer King, whilst borne on the books of these establishments, would have been serving with smaller Auxiliary vessels. The hire trawler Eske, built in 1906, was armed with one 6pdr AA gun and one 7.5in BT.