Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The unique ‘Render Mines Safe’ George Medal and Great War D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant James Balsdon, G.M., D.S.M., Royal Navy

George Medal, G.VI.R. (Lt. Jas. Balsdon D.S.M. R.N.) official correction to rank and Christian name; Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (236756 J. Balsdon, P.O. H.M.S. Cameleon, Patrol Services 1915/6); 1914-15 Star (236756 J. Balsdon. P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Gnr. J. Balsdon. R.N.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted court-style for display, nearly extremely fine (7) £4,000-£5,000

Buckland Dix & Wood, October 1993.

G.M., London Gazette, 8 July 1941: 'For gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.' The recommendation states:

‘This officer is in charge of a Render Mine Safe Party and has himself dealt with over seventy mines and many explosive mine cutters. Often the mines have been in inaccessible positions and Lieutenant Balsdon has had to face more than the usual risks of this work, but has always shown coolness and devotion to duty.’

D.S.M. London Gazette 22 May 1917: 'In recognition of services in the Destroyer Patrol Flotillas and Armed Boarding Steamers during the period which ended on the 30th September 1916.'

James Balsdon of Saltash joined the Royal Navy in 1906 as a Boy 2nd Class, aged 15. He was subsequently promoted Leading Seaman in 1913, Petty Officer in 1916, Warrant Gunner (Torpedo) in 1918, Commissioned Gunner (T.) in 1928, Lieutenant in 1940, and released from the Navy in October 1945.

The George Medal is unique in combination with a Great War D.S.M.

His award of the D.S.M. (London Gazette, 23 May 1917) appears under a general heading, but an examination of H.M.S. Cameleon's services during the previous year has pin-pointed the circumstances which probably led to his award. The ship was part of the Second Local Defence Flotilla, based at Plymouth. On 24 October 1916, she was escorting a steamer in the Western Approaches when she sighted a surfaced U-boat which had just torpedoed a collier. The Cameleon increased speed and opened fire at 3000 yards and later claimed to have sunk the submarine with her second round. Balsdon was presumably the gun-layer on this occasion (as usual with D.S.M. awards, the original recommendation has been 'weeded'). Later evidence showed that the U-boat survived the attack, but it had at least been a fine example of aggressive and accurate gunnery. Between the wars he continued to specialise in gunnery, torpedoes and mine warfare, serving at sea and as an Instructor at the shore base H.M.S. Defiance.

At the outbreak of World War II, he was placed in charge of a 'Render Mine Safe Party’ responsible for dealing with mines of every type around the coastline of Devon and his native Cornwall. Apart from the conventional 'horned' mine, the Germans were laying new and unfamiliar types fitted with anti-handling devices. The pioneers in mine disposal, such as Lieutenant Balsdon, needed to learn completely new techniques when dealing with these magnetic and acoustic mines, and several of them were killed in the process. The brevity of the citation for this award of the George Medal reflected the secrecy surrounding much of his work but his recommendation quoted above throws a little more light on his activities. He continued to command the R.M.S. Party in the South West until the end of the war, and must have gone through many dangerous experiences of which no permanent record was kept. An entry in his service record states: 'Commended for great courage, coolness and skill during an operation for the recovery of a German mine on 22nd May 1944'.