Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Dover Patrol’ D.S.M. awarded to Blacksmith S. T. Smith, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (M.2725 S. T. Smith, Blksh. H.M.S. Marshal Ney) light pitting, nearly very fine £600-800

D.S.M. London Gazette 11 January 1916.

Stephen Thomas Smith served as a Blacksmith in H.M.S. Marshal Ney during the Great War, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his services with Dover Patrol in 1915:
‘On the 19th September, with several vessels including H.M.S. Marshal Ney (Captain H. J. Tweedie), I carried out an attack against certain defences in the neighbourhood of Middlekirke, Raversyde, and Westande, which resulted in damaging and silencing the batteries. Valuable co-operation was received from the French batteries in the region of Niueport... Petty Officers and Men Specially Recommended... S. T. Smith, Blacksmith, “Marshal Ney”’ (Vice Admiral R. H. Bacon’s Despatch, published in the London Gazette, 11 January 1916, refers).

Marshal Ney’s Log Book for the afternoon of 19 September 1915, records the following:
‘Left Dunkirk for action engaging enemy shore batteries, passing through Zuidcoote Pass.
12:24 p.m. Opened fire on shore battery. Under very heavy fire from shore batteries. Retired on H.M.S. Lord Clive.
1:00 p.m. Proceeded to engage shore batteries.
1:40 p.m. Opened fire.
1:55 p.m. Under very heavy fire.
2:00 p.m. Retired on Zuidcoote Pass.
2:20 p.m. Enemy ceased firing.
4:25 p.m. Proceeded to La Panne
5:05 p.m. Opened fire on shore battery.
5:30 p.m. Under fire from shore batteries.
5:40 p.m. Engines out of action. Taken in tow by “Viking’ under fire. Course and speed as required for Dunkirk.
6:15 p.m. Enemy ceased firing.’