Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1916 ‘Battle of Jutland’ D.S.M., Second War B.E.M. group of six awarded to Chief Yeoman of Signals G. Whitby, Royal Navy, who was additionally Mentioned in Despatches for his services during the Battle of Jutland whilst serving in Admiral Jellicoe’s flagship H.M.S. Iron Duke

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (182090. G. Whitby. Ch. Yeo. Sigs. H.M.S. Iron Duke. 31. May - 1. June. 1916.) partially officially corrected; British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (C.Y. Sig. George Whitby, D.S.M., C.182090.); 1914-15 Star (182090, G. Whitby. Ch. Y.S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (128090, G. Whitby. C.Y.S., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (182090, George. Whitby. Ch. Yeo. Sigs. H.M.S. Pembroke) good very fine (6) £1,000-£1,400

D.S.M. London Gazette 1 January 1917:
‘For service in the Battle of Jutland.’

B.E.M. London Gazette 2 June 1943.

George Whitby was born in West Ham, London, on 27 March 1879. Enlisting in the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 31 October 1894, he was advanced Chief Yeoman of Signals on 29 June 1906, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 29 March 1912. His Great War service included service as Yeoman of Signals in H.M. Ships Dido, Fearless, Hecla, and Iron Duke, and it was in the latter ship, the flagship of Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet, that he served at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916. During the battle, the Iron Duke fired 90 rounds from her 13.5-in guns, and 50 rounds from her secondary 6-in guns. Although some large-calibre German shells came close, Iron Duke suffered no damage or casualties. For his services at Jutland, Whitby was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 15 September 1916 - ‘for services rendered by Petty Officers and men of the Grand Fleet in the action in the North Sea on the 31st May to 1st June 1916’), and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. Demobilised to pension on 13 December 1919, he was subsequently employed as Chief Yeoman of Signals serving in the London recruiting office within both H.M.S. Pembroke and H.M.S. President and for his services in this role during the Second World War was awarded the British Empire Medal. He was released to Class A Reserve on 25 April 1946, aged 67, and died in Chelmsford, Essex, in July 1965.