Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An early Second World War minelaying operations D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Able Seaman William Carr, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (J. 94144 W. Carr., A.B., H.M.S. Impulsive); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (J. 94144 A.B., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage bust (J. 94144 A.B., H.M.S. Campbell), the first with officially re-impressed naming, generally good very fine or better (7) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals for Services at Sea from the Collection of the Late Oliver Stirling Lee.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 14 January 1941: ‘For gallantry and devotion to duty while serving in H.M. minelayers.’

As verified by Seedie’s, William Carr was decorated for his services aboard the minelayer H.M.S. Impulsive during 1940.

Born at Gateshead, Durham in January 1903, William Carr entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in January 1919 and was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in February 1938. His exact date of joining the Impulsive remains unknown, but it seems likely that it was in January 1940, when she was converted for minelaying duties at Portsmouth. She subsequently carried out several operations off Norway in April 1940, before returning to home waters for the evacuation of Dunkirk, an event that witnessed her bringing out nearly 3000 troops before she damaged a propeller on wreckage and had to be withdrawn for repairs. Quite probably, therefore, Carr’s D.S.M., which he received at an investiture held on 6 July 1943, reflected deeds in these operations.