Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Great War ‘minesweeping operations’ D.S.C. group of ten awarded to Lieutenant-Commander J. C. Bird, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘Awarded 1916 Lieut. Commander J. Collis Bird. Presented by H.M. George V. Aug. 1917’, hallmarks for London 1916; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (Lieut. J. C. Bird, R.I.M.S. Minto); 1914 Star (Lieut. J. C. Bird, D.S.C. R.N. Transport Staff); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Lt. Commr. J. C. Bird R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed; Royal Humane Society Medal, small, silver, successful (Lieut. James C. Bird R.N. 21st Dec. 1915) mounted for display, some edge bruising and contact marks, very fine or better, and a scarce 1914 Star (10) £1800-2200

D.S.C. London Gazette 1 January 1917. ‘In recognition of bravery and devotion to duty during minesweeping operations’.

James Collis Bird entered the Royal Indian Marine as a Sub-Lieutenant in 1907 and subsequently served as a Lieutenant aboard R.I.M.S. Minto in operations in the Persian Gulf 1909-14. He was appointed a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy in September 1914. He served on the minesweepers Ravenswood and Glen Avon from July 1915. In command of the latter he was involved in a daring rescue during December 1915.

The following account taken from the R.H.S. Case Book for 1916 (Case No. 42272), ‘At 3.50 pm on 21st December 1915, H.M. Minesweeper 186 (Lady Ismay) was struck by a mine and blown up about one mile N.W. of the Longsand Light Vessel. Minesweeper 185 (Glen Avon), commanded by Lieut. James C. Bird, approached as near as possible to pick up survivors, but she had lowered her boats two to three hundred yards away so that if she herself struck a mine they would be ready in the water to give help. While thus a considerable distance ahead of her boats, two men named Baines and Petterson were seen struggling and trying to hold onto small pieces of wreckage. Lieut. Bird left the bridge and diving off the forecastle head swam to the two men. A lifebelt was floating about 10 yards away, and this he secured and tied to Patterson, whom he then assisted to a larger piece of wreckage. Baines was now very much exhausted, and Lieut. Bird supported him with one hand and with the other held on to the wreckage on which Patterson was until all were picked up by the boats after being about fifteen minutes in the water’.

For his services he was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Silver Medal. Later in the war he served on the gunboat Leda and paddle minesweeper Aiglon and was in command of the minesweeper Saltash from September 1918 and Cotillion from April 1919. For his services with minesweepers during the early years of the war, he was awarded the D.S.C. After the Great War he went to Australia where he was appointed a Lieutenant Commander on the Emergency List of the Permanent Naval Forces of Australia. In 1940 he left the R.A.N. and returned to the U.K. and was appointed a Temporary Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy serving on Fortitude, Clyde and Nemo.

With a folder of copied research.