Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine C.B., Great War ‘Adriatic’ operations D.S.O. group of ten awarded to Vice-Admiral H. G. C. Somerville, Royal Navy

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with neck cravat; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., complete with top suspension brooch; China 1900, no clasp (Lieut. H. G. C. Somerville, R.N., H.M.S. Waterwitch.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (Commr. H. G. C. Somerville, R.N. H.M.S. Alert.); 1914-15 Star (Capt. H. G. Somerville, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. H. G. C. Somerville. R.N.); Delhi Durbar 1911; Italian War Cross; Al Valore Militare, silver, mint mark crowned ‘Z’ over ‘F.G’ (H. G. Somerville Alto Adriatico 24 Maggio 1917) mounted as worn, extremely fine (10)
£2400-2800

C.B. (Military) London Gazette 1 January 1923.

D.S.O. London Gazette 11 December 1918: ‘For services on the Mediterranean Station between the 1st January and 30th June 1918 (Adriatic).’

Italian War Cross London Gazette 17 March 1919.

Al Valore Militare, silver London Gazette 17 November 1917.

M.I.D. London Gazette 14 March 1916 (Dardanelles).

Hugh Gaultier Coghill Somerville was born on 10 July 1873, son of Lieutenant-Colonel T. H. Somerville, D.L., a Crimean War veteran, and Adelaide, daughter of the later Admiral Sir Josiah Coghill, 3rd Baronet. He joined the training ship Britannia for two years in July 1886 and gained 8 months time on passing out. Midshipman, 15 November 1888; Acting Sub-Lieutenant, 14 November 1892; Lieutenant, 31 December 1894; Commander, 31 December 1905; Captain 30 June 1914; Rear-Admiral, 3 September 1924; Vice-Admiral retired, 1 August 1929.

He served during the Great War and assumed command of Europa on 19 November 1914, was slightly wounded, and was mentioned in despatches for services in Galipoli; ‘Rear-Admiral Stuart Nicholson reports he has carried out duties as Boom Commander at Salonika with great zeal and tact.’ He took command of H.M.S. Earl of Peterbourough, one of the two monitors in the Adriatic, on 28 June 1915, and is reported to have ‘handled his ship extremely well on 24 May 1917, during the bombardment of the aerodrome at Prosecco’ (Italian Silver medal for Valour). He also did excellent work on shelling the bridge over the Piave, for which he was again decorated by the Italian Government. He was afterwards in command of Coast Guard duties for the South of Ireland District and the Western Approaches. Vice-Admiral Somerville died on 16 November 1950. Sold with copied record of service.