Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte

A rare Russia 1919 operations D.S.M. group of five awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer G. B. Vincent, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallantry in the monitor M. 23 on the North Dvina

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (270827 G. B. Vincent, C.E.R.A. 2 Cl., “M. 23”, Dwina River 1918-19); 1914-15 Star (270827 G. B. Vincent, C.E.R.A. 2, R.N.); British War Medal 1914-20 (270827 G. B. Vincent, C.E.R.A. 1, R.N.); Victory Medal 1914-19, naming erased; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (270827 G. B. Vincent, C.E.R.A., H.M.S. Attentive II), contact marks, edge bruising, cleaned and lacquered, otherwise generally good fine (5) £1400-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 12 December 1919:

‘For services in Russia.’

The original recommendation states:

‘This C.E.R.A. was in charge of the machinery of the M. 23 the whole time the ship served in North Russia, from August 1918 to September 1919, and the fact that M. 23 has never failed to function is much to his credit. He looked after his machinery during the winter most efficiently and M. 23 was the first vessel up river after the ice run. He was in action at River Front during May 1919. Very strongly recommended.’

George Borebank Vincent was born at Salisbury, Wiltshire, in August 1881 and entered the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class in October 1902.

An Engine Room Artificer 1st Class serving aboard the destroyer Ariel on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he quickly saw action in the Heligoland Bight, off the Belgian coast and at Dogger Bank, prior to coming ashore to Victory II in March 1915 after the Ariel sustained serious damage to her bow when ramming the U-12 off Aberdeen on the 10th - she picked up 10 survivors.

Vincent was next embarked for the Dardanelles in the monitor M. 23, in which ship he would remain actively employed from August 1915 until returning home from North Russia in September 1919, a period also encompassing time with the Dover Patrol in June 1917-June 1918. As for the M. 23’s time in North Russia on the North Dvina, and in particular her part in the bombardments of Lopski, Lulgas, Topsa and Troitsa during May 1919, in addition to encounters with enemy gunboats, see her daily log on www.naval-history.net

Having been awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal back in November 1917, Vincent was finally pensioned ashore in October 1924; sold with copied service record.