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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 542

A scarce 'Battle of Loos September 1915' D.S.O. group of four awarded to Captain J. S. Steven, Royal Army Medical Corps, for personally capturing 22 of the enemy whilst a Subaltern

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, top riband bar adapted for mounting, in its damaged Garrard & Co. case of issue; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. J. F. Steven. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. J. F. Steven.), good very fine (4)

D.S.O. London Gazette 14 January 1916. The War Diary for the 47th Field Ambulance, 25-27 September 1915 notes:

'For gallantry at Loos & capturing 22 Germans.'

John Fraser Steven was born on 21 February 1880 and was educated at Glasgow University, graduating MA in 1903, BSc in 1913 and MBChB in 1914. Prior to the outbreak of the Great War he was practising at 43 Lansdowne Crescent, whilst also being Assistant to the Professor of Physiology at Glasgow University, which he resigned to take his commission.

Commissioned Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 18 February 1915, he joined the 47th Field Ambulance in France on 9 July 1915, having arrived aboard La Marguerite from Southampton. At the time of his gallantry at Loos, Steven had been in France for less than 3 months. He had gained front-line experience in July 1915 by being attached to the 6th (London) Field Ambulance. Steven thence proceeded to the Advanced Dressing Station at Fosse 7 on 20 September. Their joining the Station came in good time for the vast assault of 25 September at Loos and as such their Station had room for 240 casualties in total in the schools at Noeux-les-Mines. During the Battle itself the Aid Posts would be moved forward in step with the advances and as such it was possible for those in the Medical Corps to come face-to-face with the enemy, as clearly demonstrated by Steven. His award was also complemented by those of Lance-Corporal Shepherd and Private Butcher who won D.C.M.'s for the actions in the same period, whilst eleven other comrades were also 'brought to notice for gallantry and good service.'

He assumed Medical Command of the 7th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders on 8 October 1915 and thence proceeded home on leave on 24 November 1915. Besides his richly-deserved D.S.O., which was presented by The King at Buckingham Palace on 19 February 1916, Steven earned a 'mention' (London Gazette 1 January 1916, refers). Temporary appointments to be in Medical Command of the School at Gosnay in January 1916 and the same position for 71st Brigade, Royal Flying Corps came in February 1916, also being made Captain on 18 February 1916. Steven returned to the front on 4 March 1916 with the 1/2nd London Casualty Clearing Station but was admitted to hospital with pyrexia (fever) in June 1916 and again with trench fever in February 1917. He relinquished his commission on account of ill-health on 6 May 1916 and died in July 1919; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£1,900

Starting price
£1400