Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A very complete and consequently rare Boer War Naval Brigade group of three awarded to Petty Officer G. Dyer, Royal Navy, including his presentation city of Portsmouth pocket watch and Lloyd’s snuff box

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Ladysmith (148403 A.B., H.M.S. Powerful); British War Medal 1914-20 (148403 P.O., R.N.), in original card box of issue; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (148403 Boatn., H.M. Coast Guard), contact marks and edge bruising, otherwise generally very fine, together with related city of Portsmouth Hunter Pocket Watch, silver case, the outer front lid inscribed ‘Siege of Ladysmith, 118 Days, 1899-1900, G. H. Dyer, A.B., H.M.S. Powerful’, the movement by ‘S. Smith & Son, 9 Strand, Swiss made, London, Watchmakers to the Admiralty’, with related certificate of warranty and contained in original blue cardboard presentation box, the lid with the gilt inscription, ‘Souvenir / Presented at the / Banquet at Portsmouth Town Hall / To the Naval Brigade / April 1900 / Harold R. Pink, Mayor / South Africa’; Lloyd’s circular silver presentation snuff box, by ‘H. & A.’, hallmarks for Birmingham 1899, the lid with engraved crest and ‘Lloyd’s’ above and the date ‘7 May 1900’ below; an old uninscribed, plated vesta box; a purse with embroidered Union flag and ‘Naval Brigade 1900’; Coast Guard cap tally and embroidered uniform badge, and a large quantity of buttons, these last contained in a Queen Mary Christmas 1914 tin, with related card and bullet-pencil, the purse somewhat worn but otherwise these last items generally in good condition (Lot) £1800-2200

George Dyer was born at Sheflet on the Isle of Wight in October 1873 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in April 1889. Advanced to Able Seaman in July 1892, he joined the ship’s company of H.M.S. Powerful in June 1897 and subsequently served in the Naval Brigade at the defence of Ladysmith. Soon after his return from South Africa, Dyer transferred to H.M. Coast Guard, initially with an appointment as a Boatman in Northern Ireland, and he was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in October 1906. A Leading Boatman by the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he was attached to President IV with an appointment at Chichester Harbour for the duration of the War, latterly in the rate of Petty Officer (Coast Guard). Dyer was finally discharged to a pension in April 1919.