Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War Minelaying operations D.S.O. group of six awarded to Rear-Admiral W. R. G. Petre, Royal Navy, Senior Officer of Minelayers in the Mediterranean after the evacuation of Gallipoli, later Senior Allied Captain of the Port, Constantinople, under the Allied occupation 1921-23

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top ribbon bar; 1914-15 Star (Capt. W. R. G. Petre, R,N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. W. R. G. Petrie. R.N.); Coronation 1902, silver; Coronation 1911, mounted as worn, very fine and better (6) £1,600-£2,000

D.S.O. London Gazette 1 October 1917: ‘For services in mine-laying operations for the period 1 January 1916 to 1 August 1917.

M.I.D. London Gazette 16 February 1917: ‘For good services in charge of Eastern Mediterranean Squadron Minelayers.’

M.I.D. M049567/17 ‘Carried out minelaying operations on 21 April 1917 under very difficult conditions: to be considered as mentioned in despatches’ (Record of service refers).

Walter Reginald Glynn Petre was born on 14 December 1873, the youngest son of Sir George Glynn Petre, K.C.M.G., C.B., who was envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary at Lisbon. He attended the Royal Naval Academy at Gosport and joined H.M.S. Britannia in January 1887, passing out in July 1889 as Midshipman; Lieutenant, 1896; Commander, 1907; Captain, June 1915. He served in the Persian Gulf, 1897 (thanks of Indian Government); served in boat expeditions to capture pirates in Persian Gulf for pearl trade. Served in command of H.M.S. Pigeon when she bombarded the dhows in the Persian Gulf; also landed from Pigeon under the Persian Admiral, in December 1897 to punish the murderers of Mr Graves. Was afterwards Commander of Leviathan which escorted South African troops home.

He served in the Great War in command of minelayers in the North Sea; was Senior Officer of Minelayers in the Mediterranean after the evacuation of Gallipoli for mining operations; British Captain of the Port, Constantinople, 1921-22; retired list, 1923; Senior Allied Captain of the Port, Constantinople, under the Allied occupation, 1921-23; retired March 1923 at his own request and was advanced to Rear Admiral (Retd.) on 8 July 1926. Rear-Admiral Petre died on 26 December 1942. Sold with copied record of service and other detailed research.