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Auction: 18001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 556

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

An interesting Great War O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Captain E. V. Whish, Royal Indian Marine

Having rendered valuable service off the coasts of China, Somaliland and in the Persian Gulf - notably aboard H.M.S. Fox in 1910 for the 'Dubai Incident'- he would claim his most rare of distinctions: a unique 1914 Star

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.), Military Division, Officer's 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt (hallmarks for London, 1919); China 1900, no clasp (Sub. Lieut. E. V. Whish, R.I.M.S. Clive.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (Sub. Lieut. E. V. Whish, R.I.M.S. Canning); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (Lieut. E. V. Whish, R.I.M., H.M.S. Fox.); 1914 Star (Lieut. E. V. Whish, R.I.M.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Comdr. E. V. Whish, R.I.M.), mounted as worn, light contact marks, good very fine and a unique combination of awards (7)


O.B.E. London Gazette 12 September 1919:

'For distinguished services rendered in India in connection with the war.'

Eric Vipan Whish, a descendant of Lieutenant-General W. S. Whish, Indian Army, was born at Headington near Oxford in 1878.

By 1900, he was serving as a Sub. Lieutenant with the Royal Indian Marine. It would be aboard the R.I.M.S. Clive that he saw service off China during the Boxer Rebellion. Whish's ship formed part of a fleet sent to assist Admiral E. H. Seymour's efforts to relieve the besieged European garrison at Pekin. Seymour's force, initially just 2,000 strong, found itself outnumbered and fell back to Tientsin on the Chinese coast on 14 July. R.I.M.S. Clive carried much-needed British reinforcements from India to Tientsin (Medal). Together with contingents sent from America, Italy, Russia, France, Japan, Germany and Austria, this brought Seymour's effective strength to 20,000 men; Pekin was relieved on 14 August.

Between 1900 and 1920, Britain and Italy were engaged in territorial struggles in the Horn of Africa against the Dervishes under Muhammed bin Abdullah. Whilst aboard the Canning, Whish assisted by ferrying Indian Army troops to the Hobyo Sultanate in November 1902 (Medal & clasp).

The Dubai Incident, 1910

On 24 December 1910, Whish was serving as a Lieutenant aboard H.M.S. Fox when she took part in the so-called 'Dubai Incident'. An illegal arms trade through the Persian Gulf had been supplying Afghan tribes along the North-West Frontier with weapons for use against the British. H.M.S. Hyacinth, patrolling off the Trucial Coast, received reports of an illegal arms cache at Dubai.

Hyacinth's commander, Captain J. D. Dick, formed a landing party with men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Dick hoped to negotiate the surrender of the illegal arms with the Sheik of Dubai, but instead became embroiled in a fire-fight in which five members of his landing party and 12 Arabs were killed. H.M.S. Hyacinth provided covering fire for the landing party as it withdrew, bombarding Dubai with 6-inch shells and killing a further 25 Arabs.

After the incident, Rear-Admiral Edmond Slade, Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station, and Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Cox, the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, rushed to Dubai and interviewed the Sheik aboard the deck of H.M.S. Hyacinth. The Sheik agreed to surrender 400 serviceable rifles to the British and was fined 50,000 rupees. H.M.S. Fox was dispatched to ensure the efficient handover of the rifles (Medal & clasp).

The First World War and beyond

During the First World War, the Royal Indian Marine played an important role by clearing mines off the coasts of Bombay and Aden. The Marine also ferried troops and supplies to Mesopotamia, Egypt and East Africa. Having been on leave in the late summer of 1914, Whish was immediately recalled. He would serve 1 year and 136 days with 'R' Force, Royal Indian Marine from 5 August 1914, earning him the 1914 Star. Later attached to 'D' Force in early 1916, he would assume command whilst a Lieutenant Commander of the patrol vessel R.I.M.S. Nearchus on 19 February 1916. Promoted Commander in August 1917, he remained with Nearchus until just before War's end.

Appointed to the Principal Office, Bombay on 1 February 1930, he retired in July 1931. He died at Ferndown, near Bournemouth, Dorset, on 11 May 1943.

Sold with the recipient's superb Royal Indian Marine epaulettes, silver and gold bullion, by S. W. Silver & Co., 67. Cornhill, London and housed in their case of issue with brass plaque to the lid, this engraved 'Lieut. E. V. Whish. R.I.M.'; Whish can be seen wearing these epaulettes and his full-size awards in a portrait photograph.

For the recipient's miniature dress medals, please see Lot xxxx.


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Sold for
£2,100