Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Belgian Coast’ D.S.M. group of four awarded to Yeoman of Signals G. W. Allen, Royal Navy, for services in the monitor H.M.S. Marshal Soult

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (229961 G. W. Allen. Yeo. Sigs. “Marshal Soult” Belgian Coast. 1, July-11, Nov. 1918.); 1914-15 Star (229961. G. W. Allen. Y.S. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (229961 G. W. Allen. Y.S. R.N.) suspension re-pinned on War Medal, good very fine (4) £800-£1,000

D.S.M. London Gazette 15 February 1919: ‘For services in Monitors off the Belgian Coast between the 1st July and 11th November 1918.’

Goerge William Allen was born in Portsmouth on 3 May 1888, and joined the Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 23 February 1904. At the time of the outbreak of War in 1914 he was serving as a Leading Signaller aboard H.M.S. Russell, and was advanced to Yeoman of Signals in this ship on 9 December 1915. He joined H.M.S. Lord Nelson on 28 January 1916, and returned to Russell on 19 March 1916. the following month, on 27 April, Russell was sailing off Malta when she struck two mines laid by a German U-boat. Most of her crew survived the sinking, though 125 men were killed. After a short period in Pembroke, Allen joined H.M.S. Matchless on 9 September 1916, followed by Thruster on 16 April 1917. After another 4 months in Pembroke, he joined the Monitor H.M.S. Marshal Soult on 16 August 1917, remaining in this ship until 24 November 1918. He was ‘Invalided’ out on 17 February 1919.

Sold with original parchment Certificate of Service, a Leave Ticket, Admiralty letter regarding presentation of D.S.M., news cuttings and a portrait photograph taken in later years.