The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 2)

Pair: Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (MB.2429 A. V. Piper, Ch. M.M. R.N.V.R. “C.M.B. 7” Cronstadt Harbour 18 Aug. 1919); British War Medal (M.B.2429 A. V. Piper, M.M., R.N.V.R.) good very fine and rare (2)

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

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D.S.M. London Gazette 11 November 1919 ‘The following awards have been approved for services in Russia 1919.’

Form H.C.I ‘Recommendations for Honours’ (ADM. 137 1679) contains the following details:

‘A volunteer, was in charge of the engine of Coastal Motor Boat No.7 in the attack on Kronstadt Harbour on the morning of 18 August 1919. This boat piloted two other boats to the harbour entrance under heavy fire, patrolled off the entrance to the Middle Harbour and fired her torpedo at the vessels lying in the Military Harbour under heavy fire.’

The original Recommendation for Honours, Form H.C.1 signed by Rear Admiral W. Cowan was for the C.G.M., but after due consideration it was decided that a D.S.M. was more fitting.

During the Kronstadt Raid on 18 August 1919, Lieutenant A. W. S. Agar, V.C., was aboard CMB 7 (Lieutenant Dayrell-Reed), acting as Navigation Officer to lead the other boats past the forts and into the harbour entrance and to guide the boats to their respective targets. When Lieutenant Dayrell-Reed was badly wounded during the attack, Lieutenant Agar took Command of CMB 7 and pushed on with the torpedo attack on the Russian battleship ANDREI PERVOZVANNI. When their torpedo hit the battleship they were so close that they were showered with piric powder from the warhead of their own torpedo. Whilst the ANDREI PERVOZVANNI did not sink.,the torpedo from CMB 7 damaged her so badly that she was put out of commission for the rest of the war.

Prior to the Kronstadt Raid, Piper had been Chief Motor Mechanic on Lieutenant Sindall’s boat who, with Lieutenant Agar, had been heavily involved in clandestine operations involving landing and retrieving British secret agents behind the enemy lines (See ‘Footprints in the Sea’ written by Agar, Chapter Six, “A Special Mission” for further details, including mention of Piper). In answering the question on what services Piper had been employed during the last twelve months, Form H.C.1 states “Osea” and ‘Special Service’ confirming his involvement in undercover operations.

Agar had set up a secret base at Terrioki, on the Finnish shore north of Kronstadt, and began to operate a ‘courier’ service, ferrying secret agents in and out of Kronstadt Harbour in CMB 4. In his report dated a few days prior to the famous raid, he details operations in cooperation with a secret movement, initiated by Colonel Elvengren against the Bolsheviks on the Finnish frontier. He concludes by recommending Sub Lieut E. R. Sindall, Midshipman R. N. O. Marshall, and Chief Motor Mechanic A. V. Piper, and urges ‘that their services, under the enemy’s fire, merit awards for gallantry’. Of Piper he wrote “For valuable services in keeping the engine of C.M.B. No.7 running, and faithfully carrying out his duties in enemy waters and under very difficult conditions.”

During these operations the four Officers and two Chief Motor Mechanics were always dressed in civilian clothes and if ever captured would have been treated as spies and most probably shot.