A Collection of Medals to the Royal Naval Air Service and Armoured Car Squadrons

A Great War D.S.M. group of four awarded to Captain A. G. Trussell, Royal Air Force, late Royal Naval Air Service, awarded for services in the Royal Naval Armoured Car Section in Gallipoli

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (F.1175 (sic) A. G. Trussell, C.P.O. Mech., Arm. Car Sec. R.N.); 1914-15 Star (F.1775 A. G. Trussell, P.O.M., R.N.A.S.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. A. J. Trussell, R.A.F.), note variation in service number and initials, naming on B.W.M. officially corrected, very fine and better (4) £3000-3500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Royal Naval Air Service and Armoured Car Squadrons.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 19 November 1915. ‘... for services in the Gallipoli Peninsula’ ‘Chief Petty Officer, O.N.1175 (sic), No.10 Squadron, R.N. Armoured Car Section’.

M.I.D. London Gazette 22 September 1915.

Arthur George Trusell was born in Brighton, Sussex on 6 April 1884. A Theatrical manager by occupation, he entered the R.N.A.S. as a Petty Officer Mechanic on 10 November 1914. Serving with the Royal Naval Armoured Car Section in Gallipoli, he was wounded in action, receiving a slight wound to the arm on 29 June 1915. He was awarded the D.S.M. for his services in Gallipoli. An Admiralty letter to the mother of P.O. G. de la Poer Beresford, who was awarded the medal for the same action, reads:

‘.... I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to inform you that this award was made to your son, & to another rating, Chief Petty Officer Trussell, for distinguished conduct with the Armoured Car Section in Gallipoli, in repulsing an attack in force, made by the enemy, on June 11th last (1915). The Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force has reported that the failure of this attack was almost intirely (sic) due to the good look-out, presence of mind, & efficiency in handling their guns, displayed by these two men. 80 dead bodies being counted in front of the British positions when the enemy retired. ...’

The D.S.M was awarded to him as a C.P.O. in No.10 Squadron Royal Naval Armoured Car Section. This was one of two motor cycle sections. Four other Petty Officers of the Squadron were gazetted the D.S.M. for the same action.

Trussell was commissioned into the R.N.V.R. in 1916 and was later transferred to the R.A.F. In June 1917 he was posted to Dunkirk and No.9 Squadron on Armament Duties. He was placed on the Unemployed List on 11 June 1919. Sold with copied service papers and other research.