Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Great War ‘submarine service’ D.S.M. group of ten awarded to Chief Engineering Room Artificer A. W. C. Maggs, Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (270879. A. W. C. Maggs. C.E.R.A. Submarine Service 1917.); 1914-15 Star (270897, A. W. C. Maggs, E.R.A. 2., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (270879 A. W. C. Maggs. C.E.R.A. 2 R.N.), B.W.M. officially re-impressed; 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal, these last two officially impressed ‘9250. A. W. C. Maggs’; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (270897 A. W. C. Maggs. C.E.R.A. 2. H.M.A.S. Platypus.); Italy, Kingdom, Messina Earthquake Medal 1908, silver (270897 A. W. C. Maggs. Act. E.R.A. 4th Cl. H.M.S. Lancaster), engraved, this last somewhat worn, otherwise generally very fine (10) £1,000-£1,400

D.S.M. London Gazette 2 November 1917:
‘For services in submarines’

Albert William Courtney Maggs was born in Bexley, Kent, on 6 March 1888, entering naval service as a Boy Artificer on 17 January 1903. He served in H.M.S. Lancaster between 8 January 1907 and 28 January 1909 and provided relief during the Messina Earthquake of 1908. Serving as an Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class in H.M.S. Maidstone on the outbreak of the Great War, he served in H.M.S. Adamant from November 1914 to March 1915, Dolphin between March 1915 and February 1916, and thereafter in Alto, including time in H.M. Submarine V1.

Maggs remained in naval service after the war; and from 1921 was on loan to the Royal Australian Navy, where he settled, serving with them in the Second War. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 15 December 1921.