Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Great War campaign service group of three awarded to Lieutenant E. S. Wise, Royal Navy, who commanded the Machine Gun Party of 30 Marines drawn from H.M. Monitors Severn, Humber and Mersey, landed to assist the Belgian Army at Nieuwpoort. Lieutenant Wise was killed in action whilst leading his men, 20 October 1914, and was posthumously mentioned in despatches for his gallantry

1914 Star, with copy clasp (Lieut. E. S. Wise, R.N. Machine Gun. Pty.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lieut. E. S. Wise. R.N.); Memorial Plaque (Edward Selby Wise) in card envelope, generally very fine or better (4) £800-£1,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of 1914 Stars to the Royal Naval Division.

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M.I.D. London Gazette 16 December 1915.

Edward Selby Wise was born at Bedford Park, Acton, London in October 1887. He joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet in May 1904, and on passing out was posted to H.M.S. Glory on the China Station. Wise studied at the Royal Naval College, advanced to Sub Lieutenant, and was promoted Lieutenant in September 1909. He served with the survey ship Waterwich in January 1910, and then at H.M.S. Tamar, Hong Kong for duty with the West River Patrol. Wise was appointed to the gunboat H.M.S. Bramble on the China Station in August 1912, and returned to the UK in January 1914.

Wise returned to the navigation school, before being appointed to the Cressy in July 1914. He was appointed Navigation Officer of the Monitor H.M.S. Severn in August 1914, serving with the latter as part of the Dover Patrol bombarding the Belgian coast. Wise was landed from this vessel in charge of a Machine Gun Party which consisted of 30 Marines drawn from H.M. Monitors Severn, Humber and Mersey to assist the Belgian Army at Nieuwpoort. Lieutenant Wise was killed in action whilst gallantly leading his men, 20 October 1914, and was posthumously mentioned in despatches. He is buried in Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery, Nieuwpoort, Belgium.

Wise had a younger brother, Lieutenant Stacey Wise, R.N., who was killed in action when H.M.S. Cressy was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine, 22 September 1914.

Sold with copied research.