Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Zeebrugge Raid’ April 1918 D.S.M. group of six awarded to Chief Petty Officer George Cann, Royal Navy, for services in H.M.S. Iphigenia which was used as a blockship at the entrance to the Bruges Canal

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (174002 G. Cann, A.C.P.O. “Iphigenia” Zeebrugge-Ostend. 22-23, April 1918.); 1914-15 Star (174002, G. Cann, P.O. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (174002 G. Cann C.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (174002 George Cann, P.O. 1Cl., H.M.S. Minerva.); Italy, Kingdom, Messina Earthquake Medal 1908, silver, unnamed as issued, mounted as worn, good very fine (6) £2,200-£2,600

D.S.M. London Gazette 14 September 1918: ‘The following further award in addition to those announced in the London Gazette of the 23rd July 1918 has been approved for services in the operations against Zeebrugge on the night of 22nd-23rd April 1918. Act. C.P.O. George Cann, ON 174002 (Ch.).’

The recommendation states: ‘H.M.S. Iphigenia Zeebrugge-Ostend 22-23 April 1918. For good services in blockships on the night of 22-23 April 1918. From H.M.S. Pembroke.’

George Cann was born at Lacfield, Suffolk, on 6 May 1877, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in H.M.S. Impregnable on 27 June 1893. Advancing steadily through the rates he achieved Petty Officer 2nd Class status in August 1902, and was promoted to Petty Officer 1st Class in June 1908. He served aboard H.M.S. Minerva from September 1908 to October 1910, and is confirmed on the roll of H.M.S. Minerva as having landed ashore at Messina to participate in the rescue operations there after the earthquake of 1908. He also received his L.S. & G.C. medal in this ship in May 1910. He served aboard H.M.S. Diamond from November 1913 until November 1917 when he joined Pembroke I, shore base at Chatham, from where he was drafted or, more likely, volunteered for service in Iphigenia on the Zeebrugge Raid. He served in Blenheim from August 1918 to February 1919, when he rejoined Pembroke I and was discharged to shore for demobilisation on 22 April 1919.