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Auction: 26002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 175

A 'Gallipoli Operations' D.S.M. group to Deck Hand W. H. Beach, Royal Naval Reserve, who served in H.M.T. Ben Chourn and was awarded the D.S.M. for rescuing eight crewmen of a motor lighter in a strong gale and heavy sea whilst under fire in April 1915

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (D.A.776. W.H. Beach, Dk.Hd. R.N.R. Gallipoli Opns. 1915-16.); 1914-15 Star (DA 776, W.H. Beach, D.H., R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (776 D.A. W.H. Beach: 2. HD.R.N.R.), contact marks, good very fine (4)

D.S.M. London Gazette 15 May 1916, the recommendation states:

'HMT Ben Chourn' No. 83 Gallipoli April 1915 to January 1916. Gallant conduct in a strong gale and heavy sea under fire in rescuing eight of the crew of a motor lighter ashore, at great personal risk'.

William Henry Beach was born at Hull on 4 August 1890, the son of Robert and Celia Beach. A trawler fisherman he enrolled as a second hand in the Royal Naval Reserve on 10 August 1914, being posted to the trawler Ben Chourn for service in Gallipoli. The Ben Chourn was built in Aberdeen in 1914 and registered as A 40, serving as a minesweeper for the duration of the war. Beach won the D.S.M. for his gallant conduct in rescuing eight crew members of a motor lighter. He served for the remainder of the war, being demobilised on 18 January 1919 at Portland, and died at Hull in 1959.

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Estimate
£500 to £700

Starting price
£400