Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An extremely rare Great War C.G.M., Gallipoli operations D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Acting Leading Seaman A. Lumsden, Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Reserve, who received the former decoration for continuing to man his gun as his ship, the Armed Merchant Cruiser Philadelphian, sank beneath him

Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, G.V.R. (218195 A. Lumsden, A.B., English Channel, 19 Feb. 1918); Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (218195 A. Lumsden, A.B., Gallipoli Opns. 1915-6); 1914-15 Star (218195 A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (218195 Act. L.S., R.N.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., Admiral’s bust (218195 Ch. B. 10894 A.B., R.F.R.); French Medaille Militaire, this last with slightly chipped reverse enamel, minor official correction to recipient’s number on the first, contact marks and a little polished, otherwise generally very fine (7) £12000-15000

C.G.M. London Gazette 7 June 1918:
‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’

D.S.M. London Gazette 15 May 1916:
‘In recognition of services rendered by Petty Officers and men of the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron between the time of landing in the Gallipoli Peninsula in April 1915, and the evacuation in December 1915 to January 1916.’

French Medaille Militaire London Gazette 17 March 1919.

Aaron Lumsden was born in Yorkshire in March 1885 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard the training ship Ganges in October 1901. Having, however, attained appointment as a Blacksmith’s Mate in August 1909, he purchased his discharge in the following year, when he was placed on the strength of the Royal Fleet Reserve. Recalled on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, and rated as an Able Seaman, he joined the ship’s company of the destroyer H.M.S. Wear, aboard which ship he served throughout the Dardanelles campaign 1915-16 prior to removing to the shore establishment Pembroke I in July 1917, service that resulted in the award of his D.S.M. But it was for his gallantry as a gunlayer in the Philidelphian in February 1918 that he won his C.G.M. Vice-Admiral W. H. D. Boyle’s Gallant Deeds takes up the story:

‘At 10.30 a.m. on 19 February 1918, the Leyland liner Philadelphian, laden with horses and munitions, and forming one of the convoy of ten ships, was hit by a torpedo on the port side abreast No. 3 hold, throwing up a large column of water which, descending on the bridge, destroyed the compass, wheel and telegraph.

Another ship in the convoy had just previously been torpedoed, and the howitzers’ crews had been closed up. A periscope was sighted on the port beam just before the torpedo struck the ship, and fire was opened on it.

Almost immediately, a second torpedo struck the Philadelphian causing her to list heavily to port.

The guns’ crews remained at their quarters firing at the submarine while the ship was sinking, a fine example being set by the two naval ratings on board, Able Seaman Aaron Lumsden, R.F.R. and Able Seaman Edward J. Moore, R.F.R., until it was no longer possible to stand on the deck.

They were then thrown into the water where three of the guns’ crews were drowned, Lumsden, Moore and another being rescued.

For so worthily upholding naval traditions, Lumsden and Moore were both awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.’

The bravery of Lumsden and Moore clearly made a very big impact on the Philadelphian’s Master, Captain W. F. Wood, for he insisted that their actions be officially noted by the captain of H.M.S. Lennox (the ship that rescued them), the latter stating in his report to the C.-in-C. Plymouth that Captain Wood ‘desired me very strongly to bring to your notice the very conspicuous gallantry of his guns’ crews of naval ratings, three of whom lost their lives nobly due to their devotion to duty.’ Wood, of course, followed up this recommendation in his own official report at a later date, while for his own part Lumsden gave a modest statement to a subsequent Admiralty hearing:

‘Lumsden, a Howitzer gunlayer, states at 10.00 hours on 19 February 1918, he received orders from his captain to train Howitzer Red 50. On receiving the order a torpedo struck the ship under the bridge. He at once opened fire in the direction of the wake and after the explosion of the depth charge he noticed something break surface 500 yards ahead. The first shot was seen to explode in place. He fired another shot in the place where the object was last seen, at the same range (i.e. 1500 yards) and the object was seen to break surface 500 yards off the S.S. Irishman. He then at once opened fire at the object and explosions were seen. By this time he was unable to stand and fight his gun as the ship had listed very badly and water was coming over his feet. He reports two Naval ratings and one ship’s crew of the Howitzer gun were lost fighting the gun. He left one Naval rating, apparently hit by floating wreckage, dead in a boat, and was then picked up by H.M.S. Lennox and after making his report to the captain of the destroyer was landed at Plymouth. The Naval rating left dead in the boat was Arthur Davies, O.N. B.Z. 9180, R.N.V.R.’

Lumsden was finally demobilised in June 1921.