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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 624

A 'Minesweeping 1917' D.S.M. awarded to Trimmer S. Balls, Royal Naval Reserve, who was further commended for his services

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (T.S.1561. S. Balls, Tr. R.N.R. "Waldorf" Minesweeping. 1917.), sometime lacquered, very fine

D.S.M. London Gazette 17 April 1918.

Stephen Balls was born at Grimsby, Lincolnshire on 23 April 1876, the son of James and Alice Balls. He was living at 39 Trinity Street in Grimsby when he enlisted on 17 December 1914, later being mobilised for service on 24 December. He was posted to Pekin, the Grimsby home establishment, but it is not known which ship with which he served while on her books, however his D.S.M. gives the name Waldorf. There was a trawler of that name stationed at Grimsby at the time, which appeared in several papers having collided with a barge on 23 November 1916.

Balls clearly served well with the trawlers, being commended prior to his decoration (London Gazette 1 January 1917, refers.) He was transferred to Delphine on 24 October 1917 before being posted to Pembroke on 4 January 1918. Balls was finally invalided from service on 13 March 1918; sold together with copied service papers and London Gazette extract.


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Sold for
£480

Starting price
£420