The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals

Four: Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (99.S. Sergt. A. Chouffot, Motor Tpt. Coy. R.N. Division); 1914 Star, with Mons clasp (Sergt. Mechn., M.T. R.N. Div.); British War and Victory Medals (R.M.A. 99.S. Sgt.) very fine or better and unique to this unit (4)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 1 January 1916 “The following awards have been approved.”

About the time that the Royal Marine Brigade was dispatched to Dunkirk in September 1914, it was realised by the administrative Staff of the Royal Naval Division that some form of transport was necessary. Therefore, under orders of the First Lord of the Admiralty, 90 buses of the ‘B’ type of the were purchased and dispatched to Dunkirk. At the same time their drivers were enrolled and sent to the Royal Naval Recruiting Office where they were attested as Marines. They then drove their vehicles down to Dover or Southampton, stopping en route at Chatham or Eastney, where they were given a suit of uniform and a few articles of kit and then on to Dunkirk.

Thus it was that the fleet of buses from the London General Omnibus Company began their wartime service and earned their unique place in the annals of war. The buses, which were decorated with garish advertisements just as they had left the London streets, and their drivers, wearing a mixture of civilian and military uniform, made a remarkable impression on the people of Flanders which was never forgotten. Similarly, their role in transporting troops was crucial in the early stages of the war, as was the part they played in the supplying of the Naval and Marine Brigades in Antwerp, along with the evacuation of the wounded.

After the R.N.D. had returned to England, the unit was lent to the Army and proceeded initially to St Omer. From there it rendered particularly valuable service during the first battle of Ypres and, from then on, it was continuously employed in every aspect of troop transportation. In August 1915, it was eventually decided that the Army would take over the unit and incorporate it into the A.S.C.

In the course of its brief existence this small unit was rewarded with one D.S.O., one D.S.C. and the single D.S.M. awarded to Sergeant (Road Inspector) Alfred Chouffot.