Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Seaplane Station, Port Said’ O.B.E. group of three awarded to Surgeon Lieutenant L. S. Goss, Royal Navy, late 28th Battalion, London Regiment (Artists Rifles)

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; 1914 Star, with clasp (519 Cpl L. S. Goss. 1/28 Lond: R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Surg. Lt. L. S. Goss. R.N.) mounted court-style as worn with the riband for the Victory Medal, generally very fine (3) £240-£280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Small Collection of Medals to Naval Surgeons.

View
Collection

O.B.E. London Gazette 22 August 1919:
‘For valuable services in H.M. Ships during the War and at the R.N. Seaplane Station, Port Said.’

Leslie Stewart Goss was born in Southsea, Hampshire, on 4 June 1886, the son for Samuel Goss Esq., a Physician and Surgeon, and was educated at St. Edward’s School, Oxford, and Keble College, Oxford. As a medical student in London he attested for the 28th Battalion, London Regiment (Artists Rifles) on 16 February 1909, and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 26 October 1914. He was commissioned as a Surgeon in the Royal Navy on 20 November 1915, and was posted initially to H.M.S. Jupiter. Subsequently posted to H.M.S. Ben-My-Chree, a requisitioned Manx packet steamer that had been converted to a Sea Plane Carrier, in late 1916, he served in her in the Eastern Mediterranean at Port Said, and for his services at the R.N. Seaplane Station, Port Said, was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Following the cessation of hostilities Goss was granted a permanent commission in the Royal Navy, and was promoted Surgeon Lieutenant-Commander in 1923, and Surgeon Commander in 1927. He served in a variety of ships and shore based establishments, and retired in March 1937. Recalled for service in August 1939, he served during the Second World War at home as a Surgeon Captain, predominately as the Senior Medical Officer at the Swansea Naval Base (also entitled to a Defence Medal and a War Medal). He died in Plymouth on 12 May 1949, aged 62.

Sold with the recipient’s riband bar; and copied research.