Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second World War D.S.M. group of six awarded to Leading Seaman W. C. Garrett, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Berkeley

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (PJ.100916 W. C. Garrett, T/A. L.Smn.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., coinage head (J.100916 (PO.B. 18722) A.B. R.F.R.) mounted as worn, good very fine (6) £800-1000

D.S.M. London Gazette 1 January 1942: ‘For outstanding zeal, patience and cheerfulness, and for setting an example of wholehearted devotion to duty, without which the high tradition of the Royal Navy could not have been upheld.’

At the time of winning this award, Temporary Acting Leading Seaman William Cyril Garrett was serving aboard H.M.S. Berkeley, which took part in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942, was crippled by enemy bombs and had to be sunk by torpedo after the survivors had been rescued.

William Cyril Garrett was born at Bournemouth, Hampshire, on 24 November 1903, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 1st Class on his eighteenth birthday. He served in various Shore Establishments up to November 1928, when his details were transferred to a card index which still remains closed. Garrett was personally presented with his D.S.M. by the King at an investiture on 21 July 1942. It is not known whether he participated in the Dieppe Raid the following month. Sold with research.