Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte

The Great War D.S.M. awarded to Chief Petty Officer A. James, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his services in the monitor 22 in the Eastern Mediterranean - among other tasks she was charged with landing spies on the Turkish coast

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (142389 A. James, C.P.O., H.M.M. 22, E. Mediterranean), minor contact marks, very fine £600-800

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 11 April 1917:

‘In recognition of services in the Eastern Mediterranean up to the 30 June 1916.’

Arthur James was born in Birmingham in September 1871 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in August 1887. Awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in October 1904, he was pensioned ashore as a Chief Petty Officer in September 1911, when he enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve.

Recalled on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he was awarded his D.S.M. for services in the 9.2-inch gun coastal monitor 22 in the Eastern Mediterranean in the period leading up to June 1916, when she operated out of Mitylene. In addition to assisting at the bombardment of Turkish targets ashore, she landed spies, cut telegraph wires, reconnoitred remote islands and investigated suspicious steamers (Buxton’s Big Gun Monitors refers). James returned to the U.K. in August 1917 and was demobilised in April 1919.