A Collection of 1914 Stars to the Royal Naval Division

A rare Great War campaign service group of five awarded to Chief Petty Officer, later Sub Lieutenant, H. A. Stevens, Royal Navy, who served in H.M’s Armoured Train Déguise in support of the Royal Naval Division in Belgium, 1914-15, and was twice decorated for his service by the Belgian Government

1914 Star, with clasp (201399. H. A. Stevens, Act. C.P.O. Armd. Trains.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (S. Lt. H. A. Stevens. R.N.V.R.); Belgium, Kingdom, Military Decoration, A.I.R., 1st class, gilt, with palm emblem on riband, on bravery and devotion riband; Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., bronze, with Naval Armoured Trains badge, bronze, and bullion cap badge generally very fine or better (5) £1,800-£2,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of 1914 Stars to the Royal Naval Division.

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Collection

ex Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection.

A 1914-15 Star (named ‘S. Lt. H. A. Stevens R.N.V.R.’) appeared in these rooms for sale with a Belgian Military Decoration, 16 September 2010.

Only 77 1914 Stars issued to R.N. Armoured Trains.

It is believed that only 2 Belgian Military Decorations were awarded to the Royal Navy, and 1 to the Royal Marines, for the Great War.

Henry Adolphus Stevens was born in Schull, County Cork, Ireland in May 1883. He was educated at Greenwich Hospital School, from which he entered the Royal Navy as Boy 2nd Class in October 1898. Stevens advanced to Able Seaman in May 1902, and to Petty Officer in September 1912. He served with H.M.S. Royal Arthur from October 1912, and H.M.S. Excellent from February 1913. Whilst serving at the latter, Stevens was drafted for service with the Royal Navy Armoured Trains in Belgium. He served with H.M.A.T. Déguise in Belgium, September-December 1914.

Three Heavy Armoured Trains were built in Antwerp in September and October 1914, mounted with British naval guns, and placed under the overall command of Commander A. S. Littlejohns, R.N., with Lieutenant-Commander P. H. Riddler, R.N., as his second-in-command. Known from 9th November as H.M. Armoured Trains Jellicoe (Cdr. Littlejohns) with three 4.7-inch guns, H.M.A.T. Déguise (Belgian Captain Servais) with three 4.7-inch guns, and H.M.A.T. Churchill (Lt.-Cdr. Riddler) with two 6-inch guns, these three armoured trains fought around Antwerp until 7th October, then retreated via Ghent, in support of General Rawlinson’s advance to Ypres. H.M.A.T. Churchill became operational at Oostende after the retreat from Antwerp and in December went into action in the area around Oostkerke against German batteries to the south of Dixmude. From the end of December 1914 to March 1915, the three trains were continuously in action, sometimes in support of an assault (Jellicoe at la Bassée on 10 January), but in particular in counter-battery or bombardment missions in action to neutralise trench lines (Jellicoe at Beuvry 20-24 January, Churchill at Oosterkerke on 28-29 January, and against an observation post at Ennetieres on 11 February, Déguise at Beuvry firing on a rail junction on the 15th, among other targets, and Churchill against a battery at Fleur d’Ecosse on 3 March). The guns of the trains were extremely effective, notably against troop concentrations. On 18 February, H.M.A.T. Déguise fired seven shells at German troops to the South-West of la Bassée. These actions brought the trains within range of the German artillery. The Germans scored hits, but the armour protection and swift manoeuvring of the trains normally protected the crews, except on 25 January when Jellicoe was hit, wounding two men and killing the Belgian engine driver. Between 10 and 13 March, the three trains supported the action at Neuve Chapelle. On that occasion, Field Marshal Sir John French paid a surprise visit to H.M.A.T. Churchill, which was the command train for Commander Littlejohns. Towards the end of March 1915, the three trains were withdrawn from service.

Stevens advanced to Acting Chief Petty Officer in December 1914, and was commissioned Temporary Sub Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in March 1915. He advanced to Temporary Lieutenant in March 1917, and was attached to the Royal Naval Depot at Crystal in 1918. Stevens was demobilised in January 1920. For his services with Déguise he was awarded the Belgian Military Decoration - ‘awarded by Belgian Govt. for service while connected with armoured trains in Belgium’; and the Croix de Guerre (London Gazette 14 September 1918).

M.I.D. unconfirmed.

Sold with copied research, including correspondence from Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris from when the above group was in his collection.