The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 1)

Four: Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (234467 G. Shiver, Ld. Sea. Nl. Bde. Zeebrugge-Ostend 22-3 Apl. 1918); 1914-15 Star (A.B. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (L.S. R.N.) note surname misspelt on first, contact marks, therefore nearly very fine (4)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

View
Collection

D.S.M. London Gazette 23 July 1918 “The following awards have been approved for services during the operations against Zeebrugge and Ostend on the night of 22-23rd April 1918.”

Leading Seaman George Shiner was a member of ‘D’ Company of the Seaman Storming Party aboard IRIS II, whose role was to assault the Mole and silence the guns that were inflicting a heavy toll on the small craft escorting the blocking ships. Although IRIS II was successfully placed in position on the Mole, it was found that the scaling ladders were either too short or could not be made fast. The two officers leading ‘D’ Company, Lieutenants Bradford and Hawkings, had been killed in valiant attempts to reach the Mole. The point where these officers attempted to reach the Mole was swept by machine gun and rifle fire and both Officers must have known that their undertaking was hopeless. There could not have been two more gallant acts. Lieutenant Bradford was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. Having failed to secure herself to the Mole IRIS II dropped back with some difficulty onto the starboard quarter of VINDICTIVE and tried to land her seamen across her decks. A number of seamen in this fashion managed to reach the Mole but were met with a withering fire, many dying the moment their heads came above the parapet.

On receiving the signal to retire, IRIS II left the Mole on a course that took her right across the front of the Mole batteries. The enemy gunners immediately found the range and IRIS II was raked from bow to stern with 105 and 88 mm shells. As a Liverpool Ferry she had never been intended to take such punishment, flames and smoke bellowed from her as each shell struck. In the wreckage of what had once been the bridge, Commander Biggs and Major Eagles, Commanding the Marines, lay mortally wounded, the Navigating Officer and Quartermaster were both seriously wounded. A smoke screen laid by one of the Coastal Motor Boats considerably helped IRIS II in her exit from the harbour. The damage was horrendous. Fires raged below and on deck, and only the valiant work by the remaining Officers and crew gradually brought things under control The carnage amongst the seamen and marine storming parties exposed on the upper decks was horrific. Over a hundred lay dead and a further 200 lay wounded or dying. The Surgeon worked for 13 hours assisting the wounded until relieved, when IRIS II managed to limp into Dover the next day to tumultuous cheers.

George Shiner was born in Bristol in 1888 and entered the Royal Navy direct from school in 1905. He joined H.M.S. IMPREGNABLE as a Boy 2nd Class in August 1905 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in February 1906. In this rank joined H.M.S. HOGUE in September 1906, being advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 4 December. He served as an Ordinary Seaman in the following ships VIVID (December 1906), MARS (March 1907), and NEW ZEALAND (June 1907) in which ship he was advanced to Able Seaman in February 1909. He served in this rank in VIVID (January 1911), BLAKE (March 1912), VIVID (May 1914), and ISIS (August 1914). Advanced to Leading Seaman in February 1915, but was disrated to Able Seaman in May 1915 whilst aboard VIVID, he joined ORION in June 1916 and regained Leading Seaman status in January 1917. In this rank he served aboard HINDUSTAN (February 1918), ORION (April 1918) and VIVID (August 1919) from which he was demobilised.

He elected to serve with the Royal Australian Navy and joined ANZAC (February 1920), AUSTRALIA (September 1920), and MELBORNE (February 1921). Whilst in this ship he was promoted to Petty Officer in May 1921 but for some unknown serious misdemeanour he was disrated to Able Seaman in August 1921. In this rank he joined PENGUIN (August 1921), LONDON (January 1922), VIVID (February 1922), London (May 1922), VIVID (June 1922), and CURLEW (November 1922). He was again advanced to Leading Seaman in November 1922 and continued to serve in this rank in VIVID (October 1923), THUNDERER (December 1925), VIVID (January 1926), COMUTOR (February 1926). Being advanced again to Petty Officer status in May 1926, he joined CURLEW in this rank in June 1927, VIVID (September 1928) and DEFIANCE (January 1929). He was pensioned to shore in July 1930, never having been granted his L.S. & G.C. medal. He volunteered for service in World War II and joined DRAKE (August 1939) and DUKE (September 1941) where he continued to serve until September 1945 when he was released in Class ‘A’. The group is sold with his original parchment Certificate of Service which notes that he “Participated in ballot for award of Victoria Cross granted for operations against Zeebrugge and Ostend on the night of 22-23 April 1918. (London Gazette 23 July 1918)”