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Auction: 4004 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 2

The G.B.E., K.C.B. Group of Fourteen to Admiral Sir Frederic Charles Dreyer, Royal Navy, Flag Captain to Admiral Sir John Jellicoe at the Battle of Jutland, and 'one of the great experts on fleet gunnery' a) Order of the British Empire, Grand Cross (G.B.E.), Military Division, 2nd type, set of insignia, Badge, silver-gilt, and enamel, Star, silver, and enamel, with full sash riband, in Garrard, London case of issue b) Order of the Bath, Knight Commander (K.C.B.), Military Division, set of insignia by Garrard, London, Badge, silver-gilt, gold and enamel, minor damage to blue enamel on reverse, Star, silver, gold and enamel, with riband, in Garrard, London case of issue c) Order of the Bath, Companion's (C.B.), Civil Division, Badge by Garrard, London, silver-gilt (Hallmarks for London 1913), with riband d) 1914-15 Star (Capt. R.N.) e) British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaves (Capt. R.N.) f) 1939-45 and Africa Stars g) 1939-45 War Medal h) Coronation 1911 i) Jubilee 1935 j) Coronation 1937 k) France, Legion of Honour, Officer's Badge, gold and enamel hairline cracks to white enamel l) United States of America, Naval Distinguished Service Medal except where stated the group extremely fine, the medals and foreign awards mounted as worn (14) Estimate £ 4,000-5,000 Admiral Sir Frederic Charles Dreyer G.B.E., K.C.B., C.B., R.N. (1878-1956), entered the Royal Navy 1891; Lieutenant 1908; First with Honours advanced course for Gunnery and Torpodo Lieutenants 1901; Gunnery Lieutenant H.M.S. Exmouth 1904-07; on Special Service in H.M.S. Dreadnought for Experimental Cruise 1907 ; Assistant to Director of Naval Ordnance 1907-09; Commander 1907; Commander H.M.S. Vanguard 1909-10; Flag Commander to Vice-Admiral Sir John Jellicoe 1910-12; War Staff 1912; Captain 1913, H.M.Ships Amphion 1913 and Orion 1913-15; Commanded the Fleet Flagship of the Grand Fleet, H.M.S. Iron Duke, as Flag Admiral to Admiral Sir John Jellicoe 1915-16 including the Battle of Jutland (Mentioned in Despatches; C.B.) Jutland 'In the Fourth Battle Squadron- in which my Flagship Iron Duke was placed- Vice-Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee, leading one of the Divisions, the enemy engaged was the Third Squadron and some of the battle cruisers, as well as disabled cruisers and light cruisers. The mist rendered range-taking a difficult matter, but the fire of the Squadron was effective. Iron Duke, having previously fired at a light cruiser between the lines, opened fire at 6.30 p.m. on a battleship of the König class at a range of 12,000 yards. The latter was very quickly straddled, and hitting commenced at the second salvo, and only ceased when the target ship turned away. The rapidity with which hitting was established was most creditable to the excellent gunnery organisation of the flagship so ably commanded by my Flag Captain, Captain Frederic C. Dreyer' (The Grand Fleet 1914-1916, by Admiral Viscount Jellicoe of Scapa, refers). Assistant Director, Anti-Submarine Division, Admiralty Naval Staff, 1916-17; Director of Naval Ordnance 1917-18; Director of Naval Artillery and Torpedo Admiralty Naval Staff 1918-19; Commodore and Chief of Staff to Admiral of the Fleet Viscount Jellicoe, on Naval Mission to India and the Dominions in H.M.S. New Zealand, 1919-20; Director Gunnery Division 1920-22; Commanded Battle Cruiser Repulse 1922-23; Rear Admiral 1923; Vice-Admiral 1929; Admiral 1932; Commander-in-Chief China Station 1933-36; Commander of Convoys 1939-40; Inspector of Merchant Navy Gunnery 1941-42; Chief of Naval Air Services 1942-43. Admiral Dreyer was regarded as 'one of the great experts on fleet gunnery' (Newbolt, History of the Great War, Naval Operations, vol IV, refers)

Sold for
£5,500