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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 527

(x) A Great War D.S.M. awarded to Deck Hand A. Reilly, Royal Naval Reserve, for services in action with enemy submarines in the Bristol Channel



Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (S.D.1133 A. Reilly, Dk. Hd. R.N.R. Bristol Channel. 22 Dec. 1917), very fine

D.S.M. London Gazette 22 February 1918:

'For services in action with enemy submarines'.

Possibly awarded for services when S.S. Hunsbrook was torpedoed by U-60 in the Bristol Channel, 15 miles north-east of Trevose Head, Cornwall, on 22 December 1917, the ship being successfully beached with the loss of three lives.

Arthur Reilly was born at Wicklow, Ireland, on 15 July 1882, the son of William and Hannah Reilly. He enlisted in the Royal Naval Reserve on 28 May 1915 and served aboard the Idaho from 6 November 1917. Idaho was a steam yacht requisitioned by the Navy in April 1915 and fitted with a machine gun for use as a patrol vessel, based at Milford Haven. Lieutenant A. J. Mackenzie, R.N.V.R. was awarded the D.S.C. on the same occasion which Reilly won his D.S.M.

It is noted on Reilly's record of service that he deserted on 1 May 1918 and that he 'voluntarily surrendered' at Milford Haven on 17 May. He was duly awarded 60 days imprisonment with hard labour in Carmarthen Gaol; sold with copied service record.


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Sold for
£520