Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Second War ‘1941’ D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Leading Stoker H. A. Holland, Royal Naval Reserve, for services with the Channel Mobile Balloon Barrage

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (237 W., H. A. Holland. Sto. R.N.R.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation Medal 1937; Royal Naval Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (1947 V., H. A. Holland, L. Sto. R.N.R.) mounted for wear, cleaned, generally very fine or better (7) £800-£1,200

Provenance: Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, February 1997.

D.S.M. London Gazette 6 May 1941:
‘For courage, zeal, and devotion to duty while serving with the Channel Mobile Balloon Barrage.’

The Channel Mobile Balloon Barrage comprised two groups; the seagoing group which proceeded with the coastal convoys and was mainly drawn from small mercantile vessels and tugs, and those vessels which generally flew their balloons in harbour and consisted mainly of small trawlers and drifters. The former group began forming in July 1940 and was based at Sheerness until 1943 when the unit was disbanded. The seagoing barrage balloon ships were by necessity fitted with an array of anti aircraft guns and were able to provide good close support against aerial attack, destroying numerous enemy aircraft during their short existence. They were hated by enemy aircraft attacking coastal convoys and were frequently marked out as prime targets and as a result were all too frequently badly shot up, resulting in heavy casualties.

Only 18 D.S.M’s were awarded to this little-known naval unit.