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

A Great War D.S.M. awarded to Petty Officer Mechanic A. Graham, Royal Naval Air Service, awarded the D.S.M. and Russian St. George Cross for Bravery for service with the Armoured Car Division in Russia

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (F.2855 P.O. Mech. Armoured Cars, Russia, 1916-7) nearly extremely fine £2000-2500

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 11 August 1917.

Alexander Graham was born in Belfast on 1 October 1892. A Chauffeur by occupation, living at Glenmachan Cottage, Strantown, Belfast, he entered the R.N.A.S. on 28 December 1914 as a Petty Officer Mechanic. Graham joined the Armoured Cars as a volunteer from the ‘Ulster Volunteer Force’ (U.V.F.), the organisation readily supplying Locker Lampson with both money and men. His official record of service states:

‘Joined R.N.A.S. Novr. 1914 Squad. 15. France. Belgium. 15.4.16 Awarded Efficiency Star for “Driving” as Leading Petty Officer; Aug-Novr. (1916) On detached service in Persia. Novr-Decr. On detached service in Dobrudsha. Hirsova base. Decr. On detached service in Roumania. Braila action. Awarded the St. George Cross for bravery under fire. Cross No.898652. presented on Full Parade 18th Feb. 1917. Decr. 27th Slightly wounded in action on Braila front. 9th May 1917. Promoted to Acting Chief Petty Officer. Quartermaster Sqn.3. 7th June Left Tiraspol Base for service in Galicia. 13th Septr. Left Proskurov Base for Kursk. 20th Sept. Confirmed Chief Petty Officer Third Grade. Awarded Distinguished Service Medal. 10th Octbr. Left Kursk for England on leave. 12.11.17 Returned to England. 31.1.18 Transferred to M.G.C.’

Graham was awarded the D.S.M. and St. George Cross for Bravery 4th Class for an action near Braila, Romania, 26 December 1916. Leading Petty Officer Graham and Petty Officer Classy were crew members of the Ford Model T Armoured Car commanded by Lieutenant Walter Smiles. After holding off the enemy near the hamlet of Perlita, Smiles in his car decided to retire. Unfortunately the reverse gear was not functioning properly.The story is taken up in The Czar’s British Squadron:

‘The driver engaged reverse, let in the clutch, and the engine stalled. Smiles jumped over the side and swung the starting handle. The engine fired, but cut out again after they had covered only 50 yards. Smiles dismounted again and began swinging the handle once more, this time without result. The car was now the target of every enemy weapon within range and was being struck repeatedly. Smiles was hit in the rump and sent sprawling. He rolled into the shallow road-side ditch where he was joined by his crew Petty Officer Classey and Leading Petty Officer Graham. Both volunteered to try and start the car but Smiles would not let them, fearing that it would only stall again, and in any event the tyres were being cut to ribbons. Graham was sent back along the ditch to report to Shadwell, with strict instructions that no Russian lives were to be risked in attempts to help or extricate the car. They remained in the ditch until dusk, Smiles having his wound dressed with difficulty ... When darkness was complete Classey was able to start the engine, but reverse was still unobtainable. The car was bounced forward over the ditch, turned in the field and driven, with muscular assistance from Smiles back onto the road, regaining Russian lines without incident’. Smiles was awarded the D.S.O.; Classey and Graham received the D.S.M.

Sold with copied service paper and records; together with a copied photograph captioned, ‘Com. Gregory presenting A. Graham with a medal’.