A Second World War ‘Dunkirk operations’ D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Engine Room Artificer Geoffrey James Bartlett, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (M.30251 E.R.A.1, H.M.S. Keith); British War and Victory Medals (M.30251 E.R.A. 4, R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (M.30251 E.R.A. 1, H.M.S. Shropshire) first three and last mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine and better (7) £1600-2000

D.S.M. London Gazette 11 July 1940. ‘For good services in the Royal Navy since the outbreak of war’.

‘The destroyer Keith, was one of the ships engaged in evacuating the British Army from Dunkirk. At about 8.30 on the morning of June 1st, 1940, when off La Panne in company with the destroyer Basilisk and the minesweepers Salamander and Skipjack the force was subjected to intensive bombing by about 40 German aircraft. The Keith was hit and set on fire and had to be abandoned. The majority of the troops and crew on board were taken off in safety. The Skipjack was also hit and sank with very heavy loss of life. Later Basilisk was hit and foundered on the way home’ (ref Dictionary of Disasters at Sea, by Charles Hocking).

W.W.2 medals, with slip, in card forwarding box addressed to ‘Mr G. J. Bartlett, 30 Knowle Rd., Maidstone, Kent’.