Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War destroyer operations D.S.M. group of six awarded to Engine Room Artificer Class 1 J. H. Selvage, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (P/M. 36841 J. H. Selvage, E.R.A. 1); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (M. 36841 E.R.A. 1, R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, minor official correction to surname on the second, generally extremely fine (6) £600-800

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

View
Collection

D.S.M. London Gazette 1 January 1942.

John Harold Selvage was decorated for his services aboard the destroyer H.M.S. Impulsive and received his award at an investiture held on 13 March 1943 (Seedie’s refers). Given the date that it was gazetted, it seems probable that his D.S.M. reflected his part in Impulsive’s Battle Honour for Arctic convoys, and, quite feasibly, her earlier won accolades for “Dunkirk 1940” and “Norway 1940”. At Dunkirk, the Impulsive was credited with bringing away nearly 3000 troops, while off Norway she was converted for use in minelaying operations. And of her Arctic trips in the period in question, probably the most notable was PQ. 1, in which she acted as an escort between Hvalfiord and Archangel in September and October of 1941.