Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Dover Patrol’ D.S.M. awarded to Able Seaman W. C. Austen, Royal Navy, who was awarded the Naval Good Shooting Medal in 1911, and was additionally Commended for his services in action

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (194423. W. C. Austen, A.B. H.M.S. Orvieto. 1915-6.) minor official correction to ship, pitting from Star, nearly very fine £600-£800

D.S.M. London Gazette 25 October 1916.

William Charles Austen was born in Chatham, Kent, on 7 February 1882 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 5 July 1897. Advanced Able Seaman on 4 September 1901, he served in H.M.S. Implacable from 12 January 1911 to 13 January 1912, being awarded the Naval Good Shooting Medal that year, before serving in a variety of ships and shore based establishments during the Great War, including H.M.S. Orvieto from 8 March 1915 to 24 May 1916. For his services with Dover Patrol during this period he was both Commended for service in action (London Gazette 25 July 1916) and awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. He was shore pensioned on 6 February 1922.