Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fascinating group of eight to Captain G. L. Parnell, D.S.O., O.B.E., Royal Navy, Resident Naval Officer at Baku during the Bolshevik rebellion.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER, G.V.R.; ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE, O.B.E., Military, 1st type; 1914-15 STAR (Commr., R.N.); BRITISH WAR and VICTORY MEDALS, M.I.D., (Commr., R.N.); DEFENCE MEDAL; LEGION OF HONOUR, 5th class, silver, gilt and enamels; French CROIX DE GUERRE, with bronze palm, mounted court style as worn, extremely fine (8)

The group is accompanied by a most extensive archive of original documentation including:-
i Warrants and award certificates for D.S.O., O.B.E., Legion of Honour, Croix de Guerre and mention in despatches.
ii Commission documents, qualification certificates, certificate for Wounds and Hurts 1902, Appointments to Ships (17).
iii Midshipman's Log compiled by the recipient between January 1898 and July 1899, whilst aboard H.M. Ships Royal Oak and Cleopatra. Extensively illustrated throughout with water colours and sketches, and containing many interesting entries whilst stationed at Kandia during the Cretan troubles in 1898.
iv Three very good photograph albums covering Crete, 1898; China in 1901 with views of the British Legations, the Forbidden City, Wei-Hei-Wei, and the Canton River Forts; Whale Island 1903-4 with 4.7-inch naval gun exercises and deep sea diving; later photographs show manoeuvres at sea and the first battle practise of H.M.S. Dreadnought in 1907.
v Two further photograph albums covering his career with the Missions to Seamen. D.S.O., London Gazette 8 March, 1918 'For services in Destroyer and Torpedo Boat Flotillas during the period ending 31 December 1917.'

O.B.E., London Gazette 11 November, 1919 'For valuable services in connection with operations in the Caspian Sea.'
M.I.D., London Gazette 17 January, 1919, for the surface action against the U.139, Captained by Armand de la Perriere, whilst commanding H.M.S. Perth, Convoy HG 109, 1 October 1918.
Legion of Honour, Chevalier, 4 December, 1917. Croix de Guerre, 20 December, 1917. Admiralty letter of Commendation to Captain Parnell and crew of H.M.S. Nith, for the rescue and salvage of S.S. Glenelg, torpedoed in Lerwick Harbour 12 September, 1917.

Captain Gerald Langston Parnell served throughout the Great War in Destroyers, often employed on Convoy duties. He served as Resident Naval Officer at Baku, 1918- 19, and was promoted Captain in December, 1919. He retired in 1923 and devoted his life to The Missions to Seamen, visiting the incumbents of lighthouses and lightships around the coast of Britain.