Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Great War submariner’s D.S.M. group of five awarded to Petty Officer F. L. Hulance, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (220771 F. L. Hulance, P.O., Submarine Service 1917); 1914-15 Star (220771 F. L. Hulance, L.S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (220771 F. L. Hulance, P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (220771 F. L. Hulance, P.O., H.M.S. Dolphin), minor contact marks, generally good very fine (5) £1600-1800

D.S.M. London Gazette 2 November 1917:

‘In recognition of services in submarines in enemy waters.’

Frederick Lewen Hulance was born in Brompton, London, in March 1885 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in May 1902. Advanced to Able Seaman in May 1906, and qualifying as a diver in March 1908, he transferred to the submarine branch in early 1913 and was serving in that capacity as a Leading Seaman by the outbreak of hostilities.

His subsequent wartime appointments included service in the submarine D-8 from November 1915 until September 1916, and in the K-2 from March to October 1917, the latter period resulting in his award of the D.S.M. - accompanying documentation from ADM 137/1332 describes a number of successful actions fought by our submarines in this period, and losses of 29 officers and 236 men.

Adding the L.S. & G.C. Medal to his accolades in March 1918, Hulance remained employed as a submariner up until being pensioned ashore as a Petty Officer in March 1925, in which month he was enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve; sold with copied research.