Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Great War ‘Battle of Dogger Bank’ D.S.M. group of four awarded to Stoker Harold Turner, H.M.S. Tiger

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (K.22720 H. Turner, Sto. 2Cl. H.M.S. Tiger.); 1914-15 Star (K.22720 H. Turner, D.S.M., Sto. 1, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (K.22720 H. Turner. Sto. 1 R.N.) mounted as worn, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise better than good fine (4) £1,400-£1,800

D.S.M. and M.I.D. London Gazette 3 March 1915: ‘The following awards have been made in recognition of the services mentioned in the forgoing despatch’ - Vice-Admiral David Beatty, battle of Dogger Bank, 24 January 1915:- ‘Where all did well it is difficult to single out Officers and Men for special mention, and as Lion and Tiger were the only ships hit by the enemy, the majority of these I mention belong to those ships.’ A total of 31 Distinguished Service Medals were awarded in this Gazette for Dogger Bank.

Harold Turner was born at Aylsbury, Oxfordshire, on 2 September 1895, and volunteered to join the Royal Navy on 12 June 1914, aged 12. After five months training at H.M.S. Vivid, he joined the newly commissioned battle ship H.M.S. Tiger as a Stoker 2nd Class. He was promoted to Stoker 1st Class on 13 May 1915, and remained in Tiger throughout the entire war until 6 January 1921. He was mentioned in despatches and awarded the D.S.M. for the battle of Dogger Bank and later took part in the battle of Jutland. After leaving Tiger he served aboard Laburnum, Impregnable and Caradoc, interspersed with further periods in Vivid. He was finally discharged to Shore from Vivid on 11 June 1926.

Sold with original parchment Certificate of Service, History Sheet, Employment and Ability Record, and two group photographs.