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Auction: 7022 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 1239

An Early ´Dover Patrol´ Great War D.S.C. Group of Five to Avro, Morane and Nieuport Observer Lieutenant H.W. Furnival, Royal Naval Reserve, Attached No. 1 Wing Royal Naval Air Service a) Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued, silver (Hallmarks for London 1916) b) 1914-15 Star (Lieut. H.W. Furnival, R.N.R.) c) British War Medal (Lieut. H.W. Furnival. R.N.R.) d) Mercantile Marine War Medal (Horace W. Furnival) e) Victory Medal (Lieut. H.W. Furnival, R.N.R.), good very fine, mounted for wear, in custom made W. Wright Ltd, Jewellers case, with photographic image of recipient (5) Estimate £ 1,400-1,600 D.S.C. London Gazette 22.6.1916 Sub Lieutenant Horace William Furnival, R.N.R., the Recommendation states ´This officer was employed as Observer at No. 1 Wing, Dunkirk, from 27th June 1915 until about 1st February 1916, and during that time was continuously employed on reconnaissance under heavy shell fire. He has since, however, been appointed to sea service on his application, owing to the nerve strain, but during the period at Dunkirk, carried out his duties with great zeal and ability.´ Lieutenant Horace W. Furnival, D.S.C. commissioned Temporary Sub-Lieutenant Royal Naval Reserve, 3.5.1915; attached as an Observer to No. 1 Wing Royal Naval Air Service, St. Pol, Dunkirk, 1915-16; from where they flew in daily patrols, reporting on enemy shipping and submarine activity in and around the ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge, supported the naval bombardment of enemy batteries and forces on the Belgian Coast and spotted for the front line which had reached Nieuport; the aircraft that were being utilised in situ in 1915 were poorly armed (often only with a rifle) and unreliable; Furnival flew in Avros, Moranes and Nieuports, taking part in operations including: 26.6.1915 ´Avro No. 1009: Flight Sub-Lieut. Beard with Sub-Lieut. Furnival, made a reconnaissance at 10.55am to Nieuport´; 19.9.1915 ´11.45am Flight Sub-Lieut. Graham and Sub-Lieut. Furnival: Nieuport No. 3184. Coastal Reconnaissance:- Ostend - Zeebrugge´; 25.9.1915 ´During the afternoon, the following machines carried out a hostile aircraft patrol over the fleet, whilst bombarding Westende :- Flight Sub-Lieut. Mulock and Sub-Lieut. Furnival, R.N.R. Nieuport No. 3963´ (No. 1 Wing R.N.A.S. Daily Report, refers); served as Second-in-Command H.M.S. Surley (Torpedo Boat Destroyer), 3.2.1916-1919; Temporary Lieutenant 3.5.1917.

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£2,000