Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas

The impressive Second War K.B.E., inter-War C.B., Gallipoli operations D.S.O. group of thirteen awarded to Vice-Admiral Sir George Swabey, Royal Navy

Having served ashore with distinction in Gallipoli as a Naval Observation Officer, he rose to senior rank, serving as a Commodore of Convoys 1940-41 and as Flag Officer in Charge at Portland 1942-44: during the latter posting he successfully oversaw the embarkation of an entire U.S. Army Division bound for the Normandy beaches

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, K.B.E. (Military) Knight Commander’s 2nd type set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels and breast star, silver, with silver-gilt and enamel centre, in its Garrard & Co., London case of issue; The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, in its Garrard & Co., London case of issue; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar; 1914-15 Star (Commr. G. T. C. P. Swabey, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. G. T. C. P. Swabey. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1902, silver; France, 3rd Republic, Legion of Hounour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamels; United States of America, Legion of Merit, Commander’s neck badge, gilt and enamels, the suspension loop numbered ‘263’, in its case of issue, mounted court-style as worn where applicable, one or two slightly bent arm points on the French piece, otherwise generally good very fine (14) £3,600-£4,400

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

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K.B.E. London Gazette 13 June 1946.

C.B. London Gazette 3 June 1930.

D.S.O. London Gazette 14 March 1916:

‘He rendered very valuable assistance to the Army as Naval Observation Officer. Strongly recommended by General Sir Francis Davies and General Sir William Birdwood.’

Legion of Honour London Gazette 23 March 1917.

U.S.A. Legion of Merit London Gazette 28 May 1946.

George Thomas Carlisle Parker Swabey was born in Bedfordshire on 22 January 1881 and entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in Britannia in January 1895. Appointed a Midshipman in January 1897, he subsequently gained seagoing experience in H.M. Ships Cambrian and Venus in the Mediterranean and in the Crescent on the America and West Indies Stations. In 1903 he joined the gunnery establishment Excellent and was afterwards Gunnery Lieutenant in the Revenge and the Irresistible, and First and Gunnery Lieutenant of the Zealandia, in which latter ship he was advanced to Commander in 1913.

Soon after the outbreak of hostilities in 1914, Swabey joined the flagship Lord Nelson, and in her sailed for the Dardanelles. He was subsequently appointed a Naval Observation Officer to the Land Forces employed in that theatre of war and was specifically awarded his D.S.O. ‘for services in action during the Gallipoli operations April 1915 to January 1916’, which period also witnessed him being mentioned in despatches by General Sir Charles Munro (London Gazette 12 July 1916). From 1916-17 he served as Executive Officer of the Lord Nelson in the Eastern Mediterranean and in June 1918 he was advanced to Captain.

Between the Wars Swabey held several senior appointments, including those of Deputy Director of Naval Ordnance 1921-23; Captain of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich 1924-26 and Commodore Commanding the New Zealand Station 1926-29, when he was the first member of the R.N. to serve on the Royal New Zealand Naval Board. Advanced to Rear-Admiral in the latter year, he was also appointed an A.D.C. to the King and created a C.B.

Having been advanced to Vice-Admiral on the Retired List in 1935, Swabey was recalled in September 1939, when he became one of that gallant band of retired Flag Officers to assume the duties of a Commodore of Convoys, in which capacity he served from 1940-41; one newspaper obituary states that ‘after two years’ service on the high seas, Swabey’s ship was sunk from under him and he was exposed for several days in an open boat.’

Then in 1942 he hoisted his Flag as Vice-Admiral in Charge at Portland, where he was entrusted with the preparation for, and execution of, the launching of one of two U.S. Army Divisions to assault the Normandy beaches in June 1944. He was subsequently presented with an official Admiralty Letter of Praise for his part in ‘Operation Neptune’, and the American Legion of Merit ‘for distinguished service during the planning and execution of the invasion of Normandy’ (Admiralty letter of notification, refers). An idea of the scale of his responsibilities in this period maybe be found in the inscription left by the Americans on a local commemoration stone:

‘The major part of the American Assault Force which landed on the shores of France on D-Day 6 June 1944, was launched from Portland harbour. From 6 June 1944 to 7 May 1945, 418,585 troops and 144,093 vehicles embarked from this harbour.’

Swabey was afterwards appointed Naval Officer in Charge at Leith, in which capacity he was awarded the K.B.E., the insignia for which he received at an investiture held on 28 January 1947. The Admiral, ‘a truly good man, kindly and modest, who feared God and honoured the King’, retired to Chichester and died there in February 1952.

Sold with Buckingham Palace letter and invitation to attend Investiture on 28 January 1947; Bisley ‘Whitehead Challenge Cup’ medal, silver-gilt and enamels, hallmarked Birmingham 1905, with gilt enamelled ribbon bar ‘1905’ over wreath, and top suspension brooch, silver-gilt and enamel ‘NAVY’ surmounted by Naval crown, unnamed in B. Ninnes, Goldsmith, Hythe case of issue; together with studio portrait in uniform wearing medals and copied research