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Auction: 17002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 332

'About 35 Naval officers and 330 Naval ratings were employed for varying periods on these duties. A great number worked unceasingly without relief or rest, exposed to consistent air attacks, and periodical bombardments from artillery, for up to seven days. The work of these officers and men was of the greatest value and contributed largely to the success of the operation.'

The introduction to recommendations for 'Beach Parties, Pier Parties, Control of Evacuation off the Coast and in Dunkirk Harbour', refers.

Three: Chief Electrical Artificer E. J. Lovell, Royal Navy, who was mentioned in despatches for his gallant services as a member of a shore party at Dunkirk

1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue (M. 27540 E. J. Lovell, C.E.A. 2, H.M.S. Curacoa), the last with edge bruising, good fine, the others good very fine (3)

Mention in despatches London Gazette 16 August 1940:

'For good services in the withdrawal of the Allied Armies from the beaches of Dunkirk.'

Edgar James Lovell was born in Bristol on 2 August 1899 and entered the Royal Navy as Armourer's Crew in August 1917; his subsequent wartime appointments comprised the gunnery establishment Excellent, the torpedo establishment Vernon and the Portland depot ship Research.

Appointed an Electrical Artificer 4th Class after the end of hostilities, Lovell gained steady advancement and was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in September 1932. Having then been promoted to Chief Electrical Artificer 1st Class in the summer of 1934, he was employed in the submarine branch with appointments in Cyclops and Dolphin in the period 1935-37. He was pensioned ashore in August 1939.

Quickly recalled on the renewal of hostilities in September, Lovell joined the repair ship Sandhurst at Dover, and it would appear he was similarly employed when conscripted for service in a Naval Shore Party at the time of the withdrawal from Dunkirk. The attribution of Bailey's subsequent mention in despatches for services ashore is taken from A. D. Divine's Dunkirk; sold with copied service records.

Additional Reference sources:

Divine, A.D., D.S.M., Dunkirk (Faber & Faber, London, 1944).


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Sold for
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