Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas (Part I)

The important Great War D.S.O., D.S.C. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Summers, Royal Marine Brigade, Royal Naval Air Service, and Tank Corps (Heavy Branch M.G.C.), who led the first tanks to be used in War on the Somme 1916

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., the reverse hallmarked London 1915 and engraved ‘Captain F. Summers D.S.C.’; British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Matabeleland 1893, no clasp (Troopr. F. Summers, Victoria Column.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Wittebergen (Lieut. F. Summers. 53 Co. Impl. Yeo.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Temp. Lieut. F. Summers, R.M. Brigade); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. F. Summers.) mounted as worn, light contact marks to the earlier medals, otherwise very fine and better (7) £5,000-£7,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1917: ‘Temporary Major, Machine Gun Corps.’

D.S.C. London Gazette 1 January 1916: ‘Temporary Captain, Royal Marines. For services with the Royal Naval Division Motor Transport Company in France.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1916 and 4 January 1917.

Frank Summers served as a Trooper in the B.S.A. Company’s Police during the Matabele Rebellion of 1893, and also acted as a Correspondent for Reuters whilst attached to the Victoria Column. He served during the Boer War as a Lieutenant in the Royal East Kent Yeomanry and was mentioned in despatches. In 1914 Summers volunteered himself and his motor car for service with the Royal Naval Division in Belgium and France, there being a chronic shortage of transport at this time. He was Adjutant of the Royal Marine Motor Transport Company which was formed in September 1914 and disbanded in August 1915. They were employed in transporting troops in every direction as the great move to cover the Channel ports was taking place, and they were very active during the 1st and 2nd battles of Ypres, at Aubers Ridge and at Festubert. Two of its officers were decorated, Captain H. M. Leaf, R.M., with the D.S.O., and Captain Frank Summers with the D.S.C.

After serving in France, Summers went to the Dardanelles with the Royal Naval Air Service, probably in armoured cars. His Royal Marine commission was terminated on 27 March 1916, when he transferred to the Army as a Major in the Heavy Branch of the Machine Gun Corps, cover name for the first tank unit, and which later became known as the Tank Corps. He trained and led the original “D” Company of tanks in the attack on Flers-Courcelette on the Somme, 15 September 1916, the first ‘official’ occasion on which tanks were used in the War. However, one of Summers’ “D” Tanks had carried out a lone reconnaissance on the day before, so there can be no doubt that it was one of his tanks that was the first ever to go into action. On 19 November he was in command of three tank companies in the attack on Cambrai. Although the award of his D.S.O. in January 1917 does not carry a citation, there can be little doubt that it was made in recognition of his services on the Somme. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in the Tank Corps in November 1916 and commanded the 6th Tank Battalion from January to December 1917. Later in the War he served with the British Military Mission in Washington and lecturing at the War College on tank tactics. Whilst in Washington he met with the young Dwight D. Eisenhower, also a tank specialist and destined to become 34th President of the U.S.A.