A fine London Blitz George Medal group of five awarded to Captain J. D. Archer, Assistant Dockmaster of the Surrey Commercial Docks, Port of London Authority, won during the first few days of the German aerial bombardment of London in September 1940

George Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Captain John Douglas Archer); British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals (John D. Archer) the second officially re-impressed; Defence Medal; Netherlands Cross of Merit, nearly extremely fine (5) £2500-3000

G.M. London Gazette 24 January 1941: Captain, Assistant Dockmaster, John Douglas Archer.

‘During a heavy raid on Docks in London it was necessary to remove ships endangered by the attacks of enemy aircraft. Before this could be started a large amount of debris from burned timber sheds and buildings and a waterlogged barge, had to be cleared from the entrance approach. Fires were still burning in the immediate vicinity, which was thus an easy target for enemy raiders. The dockmaster and his staff nevertheless commenced the operations as soon as the tide served.

The movement of the ships from their berths and from the lock into the river occupied several hours. During most of this period enemy planes were overhead and bombed the docks and near neighbourhood.

All the dock officers and men engaged displayed remarkable coolness and devotion to duty under most exciting and dangerous conditions.’

Netherlands, Cross of Merit, approved March 1943 and personally presented by Queen Wilhelmina at the Dutch Embassy, Chester Square, London, 19 October 1943: ‘Captain J. D. Archer, G.M., who, as assistant dockmaster of the Surrey Commercial Docks, London, which were exposed to very heavy German aerial bombardments on the 7th, 8th and 13th September, 1940, showed great courage and skill whilst shifting three Dutch ocean liners and one Dutch coastal vessel under dangerous conditions, as a result of which these ships were brought into safety.’

John Douglas Archer served in the Merchant Navy with the Wilson Line and Cunard Line, 1916-35. He was serving as a Cadet on his first voyage in the S.S. Cannizaro of Hull, when she was sunk by the torpedoes and shell-fire of a U-boat, S.S.W. from Fastnet, on 28 March 1917, when returning from New York. Archer worked for the Port of London Authority as assistant dockmaster at the Surrey Commercial Docks from 1935 until his retirement in 1965, when he sold his medals to Messrs. Spink & Son Ltd., and went to live in Dublin. Sold with various letters from the recipient and copied documents, together with a copy of his magazine article ‘My First Voyage to Sea’, and extracts from Touching the Adventures... of Merchantmen in the Second World War, edited by J. Lennox Kerr, which cover his exploits and include a detailed abstract from Archer’s log-book entries for 7th-8th September 1940.