Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Boer War and Great War Naval M.S.M. group of six to Chief Shipwright Frank James, Royal Navy
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Ldg. Car. Cr., H.M.S. Fearless); 1914-15 Star Trio (341996 Ch.Shpt., R.N.); Royal Naval L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (Shipt., 1Cl., H.M.S. Imperieuse); Royal Naval Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (Ch.Shipwt. 2Cl., “Caledon” Services During War) together with a small silver medal for Their Majesties Visit to India 1911, very fine and better (7)

M.S.M. London Gazette 27 June 1919. The same gazette announced the award of four D.S.O’s and one D.S.C. to Officers of H.M.S. Caledon, all for the battle of Heligoland Bight on 17 November, 1917. H.M.S. Caledon was Commodore Walter Cowan’s Flagship and part of the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron in what was the last ‘big-ship’ engagement of the Great War. Caledon was hit amid ships by a large calibre German shell killing and wounding most of the crew of one of her guns. Seaman J.H. Carless, although mortally wounded, continued to serve his gun before finally succumbing to his wounds. He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.