Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas (Part I)

The Great War ‘Falklands 1914’ D.S.M. and Italian Al Valore Militare group of six awarded to Shipwright 1st Class A. E. N. England, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallantry in the cruiser H.M.S. Glasgow

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (341971 A. E. N. England, Shipt. 1 Cl. H.M.S. Glasgow); 1914-15 Star (341971 A. E. N. England, D.S.M., Shipt. 1, R.N.); British War & Victory Medals (341971 A. E. N. England. Ch. Shpt., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (341971 A. E. N. England, Car. Mate H.M.S. Glasgow); Al Valore Militare, bronze, unnamed as issued, mint mark crowned ‘Z’ over ‘F.G’, light contact wear, otherwise good very fine (6) £3,000-£4,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 3 March 1915:

‘The names of the following are specially mentioned … To receive the Distinguished Service Medal:

Shipwright, 1st Class, Albert N. E. England, O.N. 341971, H.M.S. Glasgow.’

The original recommendation states:

‘This Shipwright was stationed at the upper end of the fore ammunition hoist and when one man was killed and another of his party disabled, continued by his extraordinary exertions to keep up a rapid supply of ammunition to the guns.’

One of 12 D.S.Ms for the battle of the Falklands and the only one to H.M.S. Glasgow.

Al Valore Militare London Gazette 17 November 1917.

Albert Edward Newton England was born at Landport, Hampshire on 13 November 1876 and entered the Royal Navy as Carpenter’s Crew in April 1898.

A Shipwright 1st Class in the cruiser H.M.S. Glasgow on the outbreak of war, he quickly saw action at the battle of the Coronel on 1 November 1914, when Vice-Admiral Graf von Spee overpowered a squadron under Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock, sinking the Good Hope and Monmouth with heavy loss of life. For her own part, Glasgow duelled inconclusively with the Leipzig and Dresden, and is estimated to have had around 600 shells fired at her. Remarkably, however, she suffered only light damage from five hits and lived to fight another day.

As it transpired, that day was the occasion of Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Sturdee’s celebrated victory off the Falklands on 8 December 1914, when England distinguished himself on one of Glasgow’s ammunition hoists. Having cleared Port Stanley harbour at 0945 hours, Glasgow was ordered by Sturdee to shadow von Spee’s squadron and report on any significant actions. Once the remaining British cruisers had caught up, a general engagement commenced and Glasgow opened fire on Leipzig at a range of 12,000 yards, getting in one good hit but suffering two in return. She nonetheless stuck to her adversary when the German squadron scattered, and was in at Leipzig’s end; Glasgow and Cornwall managed to rescue just 18 German sailors in the darkness.

In addition to his subsequent award of the D.S.M., his service record notes that England also received the Italian Al Valore for like services in November 1917.

His subsequent wartime appointments comprised the shore establishment Fisgard (January 1916-February 1917), the battleship Canada (February-October 1917), and the cruiser Minotaur (October 1917-February 1919). Having also been awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal in March 1918, he was pensioned ashore in May 1920.

Sold with named card lids for Great War medals and two old ribbon bars, together with copied research.