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Auction: 9022 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 432

The Rare Inter-War ´Palestine´ D.S.M. Group of Ten to Leading Seaman W.A. Richards, Royal Navy, One of Only Three D.S.M.s given for Operations in Palestine 1936-39 a) Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (J.77972 W.A. Richards. L.S., R.N., Palestine 1936.) b) British War and Victory Medals (J.77972 W.A. Richards. Boy 1 R.N.) c) Naval General Service 1915-62, G.VI.R., one clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (J.77972 W.A. Richards. L.S. R.N.) d) 1939-1945 Star e) Atlantic Star f) Africa Star g) Italy Star h) War Medal i) Naval Long Service & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd ´coinage head´ type (..77972 W.A. Richards. L.S. H.M.S. Durban.), the Great War and Long Service awards worn, the rest very fine or better, together with the recipient´s Certificate of Confirmation and Admission to Holy Communion, December 1941 (10) Estimate £ 5,000-6,000 D.S.M. London Gazette 5.11.1936 Walter Arthur Richards, Leading Seaman, Official Number P/J 77972, H.M.S. "Durban" ´´For gallant and distinguished services rendered in connection with the emergency operations in Palestine during the period 15th April to 14th September 1936.´´ J 77972 Leading Seaman Walter Arthur Richards, D.S.M., born Norwood, London, 22.5.1902; enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class, serving in H.M.S. Impregnable, 12.2.1920; promoted Able Seaman, H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth, 21.7.1921; Leading Seaman, H.M.S. Renown, 14.11.1928; served during the Palestine Campaign 19.4.1936-3.9.1939 in H.M.S. Durban, and went ashore in the force commanded by Lieutenant P. Gretton, R.N., to assist the army in protecting convoys, and also to assist the police in the control of Haifa during the Riots, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal; later served throughout the Second World War. In 1930 the bust of George V on all Gallantry awards was changed from a bare-headed effigy to a crowned-headed effigy, to come into effect for all awards Gazetted on or after 1.1.1931, as seen on Distinguished Conduct Medals, King´´s Police Medals, Edward Medals, Military Medals, Distinguished Flying Medals, and Air Force Medals. The Annual Report of the Deputy Master and Comptroller of the Royal Mint (1930) makes clear that the crowned-head reverse should also apply to the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal and Distinguished Service Medal, but as there were only three awards of the latter (and none of the former) in the period 1930-37 it is likely that old stock was still being used up, and that the only crowned-head medals struck, if at all, were official specimens. Both Petty Officer Shorter´´s and Marine Jones´´s D.S.M.s, the other two awards in this period, have the bare-headed effigy of King George V.

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£4,500