Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte

A fine Second World War Malta operations O.B.E., Baltic 1919 operations D.S.C., O. St. J. group of twelve awarded to Captain E. J. F. Price, Royal Navy

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1919, the reverse privately inscribed, ‘Lieut. E. J. F. Price, R.N., “Baltic”, 1919’; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem (O. St. J.), Officer’s breast badge, silver and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. E. J. F. Price, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. E. J. F. Price, R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953, the earlier awards with contact marks, lacquered overall, otherwise generally very fine (12) £1600-1800

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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O.B.E. London Gazette 6 October 1942:

‘For bravery, endurance and sustained devotion to duty at Malta and at sea during and after the passage of an important convoy’.

Seedie’s roll confirms award for ‘Malta Convoy, March-April 1942’.

D.S.C. London Gazette 8 March 1920:

‘Honours for services in the Baltic, 1919’.

M.I.D. London Gazette 19 August 1941.

Seedie’s roll confirms award for services at ‘Fire, Essex, Malta.



Edward Joseph Francis Price was appointed a Midshipman in January 1907 and, having enjoyed seagoing experience in the Mediterranean, was serving as a Lieutenant in the destroyer H.M.S. Grampus by the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914.

Ordered to the Dardanelles in the following year, Grampus was involved in one of the failed attempts to finish off the stranded submarine E-15 off Kephaz Point, in addition to supporting the landing of the 11th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, in Suvla Bay in early August 1915.

Having then served in the cruiser Diamond from January 1916 to June 1918, Price joined the light cruiser Phaeton in August 1919, in which capacity he was awarded his D.S.C. for his services as her Navigating Officer in the Baltic before the year’s end - an award undoubtedly reflecting Phaeton’s part in maintaining the Allied blockade of Libau against German shipping in October-November, during which period she carried out a successful shore bombardment in support of a Latvian contingent. He was also advanced to Lieutenant-Commander in March 1920.

Placed on the Retired List as a Commander in June 1933, Price was recalled on the renewal of hostilities and was appointed
Sea Transport Officer in Charge in Malta during 1940. And he remained similarly employed throughout the island’s siege, latterly as Divisional Sea Transport Officer in the acting rank of Captain. Mentioned in despatches for his part in the rescue operations of the M.V. Essex on the occasion she was hit by a heavy bomb while being unloaded in harbour - miraculously her cargo of thousands of tons of ammunition did not explode - he added the O.B.E. to his accolades in the following year for services as D.S.T.O. during an important convoy to Malta in March and April 1942.

Price appears to have been released from service in early 1945.