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Auction: 8016 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 1

A Second War ´Minesweeping´ D.S.O. and Bar, M.V.O., Group of Eleven to Captain W.S. Bardwell, Royal Navy a) Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, enamel chip to obverse left arm of cross reverse of suspension bar dated ´1942´, with Second Award Bar, reverse dated ´1944´ b) The Royal Victorian Order, Member´s Fourth Class (M.V.O.) breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, reverse numbered ´1304´ c) 1914-15 Star (Lieut. W.S. Bardwell. R.N.) d) British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. W.S. Bardwell. R.N.) e) 1939-1945 Star f) Atlantic Star, with France and Germany Bar g) Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaf h) Naval General Service 1915-62, G.VI.R., one clasp, Minesweeping 1945-51 (Capt. W.S. Bardwell. D.S.O. M.V.O. R.N.) i) Jubilee 1935, light contact marks overall, generally very fine, mounted as originally worn, with two original Certificates of Conduct, dated 30.9.1945 and 16.3.1946 (11) Estimate £ 4,000-5,000 D.S.O. London Gazette 11.6.1942 Captain William Scott Bardwell, M.V.O., Royal Navy (Retired) D.S.O. Second Award Bar London Gazette 8.6.1944 Captain William Scott Bardwell, D.S.O., M.V.O., Royal Navy (Retired). The Recommendation states: ´´Captain W.S. Bardwell, has served as Captain M/S Humber since 1940. By his magnificent leadership and example he has instilled into the personnel of his M/S Force the excellent spirit which it is only fair to say makes that Force second to none in the Service. I cannot speak too highly of Captain Bardwell; he is ever unsparing in his efforts which continue to produce results repeatedly evoking commendation from higher authorities and which I consider full worthy of further recognition.´´ M.V.O. London Gazette 1.1.1931 Commander William Scott Bardwell, R.N. (dated 23rd August, 1930) M.I.D. London Gazette 1.1.1942 Acting Captain William Scott Bardwell, M.V.O., Royal Navy. Captain William Scott Bardwell, D.S.O., M.V.O. (1892-1968); educated at Cheam School, Royal Naval College Osborne and Dartmouth (awarded the King´´s Medal); joined the Royal Navy as Midshipman, 15.9.1909; Sub-Lieutenant 30.11.1912; appointed Lieutenant H.M.S. Daisy (borne in H.M.S. Endeavour, Survey Ship), from 25.11.1913; served during the Great War, appointments including Officer Commanding H.M.S.´´s Pansy and Dahlia; Commander 30.6.1924; appointed to H.M.S. Cockshafer (gunboat), on the China Station, from 16.10.1926; whilst serving in the latter he went up the Yangtze, 24.2.1927, when he ´´sustained bruises on head, arm and body during disturbances at Ichang´´ (service papers refer); other post war appointments included as Officer Commanding H.M.S. Albury (Minesweeper), 22.5.1929-1.5.1931; as the same appointment to H.M.S. Curlew (cruiser), from 5.11.1936; at the outbreak of the Second World War Bardwell was serving as Acting Captain with the Naval Intelligence Division; appointed as Officer Commanding Humber Minesweeping Forces, 10.12.1940, this he did from H.M.S. Colonsay (Grimsby); Bardwell held this position for the duration of the War, receiving the following praise from his Commanding Officer: ´´Captain Bardwell has held this appointment since 10th December 1940 and has been in charge of minesweeping operations in the Humber area for nearly five years of war. He has directed and personally supervised this dangerous work with outstanding ability and energy keeping open our East Coast ports and serving innumerable ships´´; he relinquished his command in early 1946, retiring in May of that year.

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£4,800