Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

1914-15 Star (Lt. Commr G. B. Villiers. R.N.) good very fine £50-£70

Gerald Berkeley Villiers was born into the aristocratic Villiers family at St. Paul’s Vicarage, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, on 14 June 1885, the son of the Reverend Henry Montague Villiers, Vicar of St. Paul’s Knightsbridge, and Charlotte Louisa Emily Cadogan, and entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet at H.M.S. Britannia on 15 January 1900. Appointed Midshipman on 15 June 1901, he was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant on 15 August 1904, and was promoted Lieutenant on 31 December 1906, and Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December 1914. He served during the Great War predominately on the Staff, and was promoted Commander on 30 June 1918.

For his ‘valuable services as Flag Lieutenant-Commander to Vice-Admiral Sir Edward E. Bradford, K.C.B., C.V.O., Commanding 3rd Battle Squadron’ during the Great War Villiers was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (London Gazette 10 July 1919), Bradford’s own memorandum stating: ‘Performed his duties as Flag Lieutenant Commander and Signal Officer in an exceptionally capable and efficient manner, built up and exercised a most efficient organisation of signalling in the ships under my orders - carried out numerous experiments in seaplanes to develop an efficient means of communications between ships and aircraft and has at all times a great assistance to me.’ He was invested with his O.B.E. at Buckingham Palace on 26 November 1919,. He was also appointed an Officer of the Italian Order of the Crown (London Gazette 17 October 1919), and a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour (London Gazette 12 December 1919). Furthermore, in a memorandum dated 11 September 1919 Captain R. J. Nicholson stated: ‘I most strongly urged that his original work in connection with visual communication maybe suitably recognised’; and Vice Admiral Fremantle later recommended him for the C.B.E. on 24 November 1919.

Villiers transferred to the Retired List on 1 November 1922, and was promoted Captain (Retired) on 14 June 1930. He saw further service during the Second World War with the newly formed Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships (DEMS), including overseas service that would earn him the Africa Star; and then with the Control Commission in German from 1945 to 1947. He died at Court Lodge, Lamberhurst, on 21 February 1959.
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