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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 634

(x) A fine 'North Sea' minesweeping D.S.M. group of four awarded to Skipper F. Howsam, Royal Naval Reserve, who survived the mining of the hired trawler Ladysmith near the Kentish Knock, but whose career was later stalled by an accident which resulted in significant injury to his hand

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (D.A.583. F. Howsan, 2nd. Hd. R.N.R. "Ladysmith" Minesweeping. 1917.); 1914-15 Star (D.A.583 F. Howsam. 2.Hd., R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (D.A.583 F. Howsam. Skr. R.N.R.), note surname to first, very fine (4)


D.S.M. London Gazette 12 April 1918:

'For service in mine-sweeping operations'.

Fred Howsam was born on 11 March 1896 at Wainfleet, Lincolnshire, the son of William H. Howsam and his wife Minnie. A resident of 93 Orwell Street, Grimsby, Howsam enrolled into the Royal Naval Reserve on 9 August 1914. Posted to Actaeon and operating out of Grimsby and Sheerness, Howsam was appointed 2nd Hand Rating on 13 August 1915 and served aboard HMT Ladysmith on extensive minesweeping duties. Built by Cochrane & Sons at Selby in 1906 and armed with a single 12-pounder gun, Howsam was fortunate to emerge unscathed when the trawler struck a mine 2 miles north east of the North Knock Buoy on 20 August 1917. The vessel was towed to Harwich for repairs.

Temporarily confined to shore, Howsam gained his Certificate of Competency as a Skipper on 29 October 1917, however he was passed over for promotion. At around this time his service record also notes an accident which led to a compound fracture and extensive lacerations to the fingers of his right hand. Awarded the D.S.M., possibly as a result of his actions following the mining of the Ladysmith, Howsam was demobilised on 31 January 1919, his conduct noted as 'very good'. He was later awarded £20 from the naval prize fund on 19 June 1922, before likely returning to a career as a fisherman or skipper of a vessel. He died at Grimsby in January 1987, aged 90 years.


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Sold for
£1,200

Starting price
£480