A rare Anglo-Russian Naval Brigade operations D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Colour-Sergeant W. G. Peters, Royal Marines

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (PO/17265 Pte. W. G. Peters, R.M.L.I., Russian Allied Nl. Bde. 13-16 Oct. 1919); British War and Victory Medals (PO. 17265 L. Cpl. W. G. Peters, R.M.L.I.); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Royal Marines Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (PO. 17265 C. Sgt. W. G. Peters, D.S.M., 28.2.1951); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage bust (PO. 17265 Sgt. W. G. Peters, R.M.), the M.S.M. with officially corrected number, the first three with contact marks and a little polished, good fine, the remainder very fine or better (7) £3000-3500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 22 April 1919.

William George Peters was born in Gosport, Hampshire in August 1899 and enlisted in the Royal Marines Light Infantry as a boy recruit in May 1914. Posted to the Portsmouth Division, he was awarded the King’s Badge in the summer of 1918, by which stage he was serving in Russia.

A full account of the Royal Marines in Russia 1918-19 may be found in Blumberg’s Britain’s Sea Soldiers 1914-19, a publication that also confirms the recipient’s award as being one of just nine D.S.Ms to the Corps for these operations. It is clear, however, that the year inscribed on his D.S.M. should actually be 1918, rather than 1919 (by October of which year the Allied Naval Brigade had returned home), a deduction also made possible by entries in Peters’ service papers - he was among the 94 N.C.Os and men of the Royal Marine Field Force that accompanied “Elope” Force in the River Dwina operations, the whole having been transferred to the books of H.M. Monitor 25.

It is interesting to note that due to the intense cold of the Arctic winter, Sir Ernest Shackleton travelled to Murmansk to advise the Force based on his experiences gained in the Antarctic. As a result, each man was issued with an Arctic kit designed by him, comprising four sets of Wolseley underclothing, one Burberry suit, one large woollen lined overcoat, 12 pairs of socks, one pair of Shackleton boots, one Arctic cap, special gloves, one pair of blizzard goggles, one pair of skis and sticks, and one Westinghouse rifle manufactured in the U.S.A. The Force was also equipped with small axes, sleighs as used in Sir Ernest’s last expedition, sleeping bags, Stockholm tar and specially prepared food.

Following his services in Russia, he remained a “regular”, was awarded the Jubilee 1935 and Coronation 1937 Medals (service papers refer), and was discharged in August 1938. Soon after the renewal of hostilities, however, he was recalled by his old Corps and appears to have served at assorted R.M. Barracks and Depots in the U.K. until being released for a final time in September 1945; sold with copied research.