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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 143

An 'H.M.S. Versatile Operation Ordnance' M.I.D. group of eight awarded to Petty Officer P. J. Dawson, Royal Navy, who also served at Jutland with H.M.S. Birkenhead

1914-15 Star (J.38721 P. J. Dawson, Boy. 1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.38721 P. J. Dawson. A.B. R.N.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (J.38721 P. J. Dawson. P.O. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., (J.38721 P.O., H.M.S. Vimiera) edge bruising and contact wear to first three nearly very fine, otherwise very fine (8)

Philip James Dawson was born in Reepham, Norfolk on 9 March 1899 and worked as a Farm Boy before enlisting with the Royal Navy as Boy Class II on 26 February 1915. Posted first to Ganges he was advanced to Boy Class I while with Victory I on 5 August 1915. In this role he joined the company of the light cruiser Birkenhead on 26 August 1915.

At the time she was serving with her sister ship Chester as part of 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron. This formation joined Admiral Beatty's Battlecruiser Fleet during the Battle of Jutland where they screened the Third Battlecruiser Squadron. Coming under particularly heavy fire during the Battle, they fought hard to maintain their position - notably Chester which suffered very heavy casualties in the fighting.

Dawson reached his majority the year after the Battle, being appointed Ordinary Seaman on 9 March 1917. Promoted Able Seaman not long later on 18 April 1918 Dawson remained with the Light Cruiser until the end of the war. He saw post-war service with a number of separate vessels and establishments including Viscount, Pembroke I and Caledon.

By the outbreak of the Second World War he been promoted Chief Petty Officer, serving with the destroyer Versatile. This vessel was attached to Nore Command in early 1940 and began operating off the coast of Holland with H.M.S. Malcom and Vivien. These destroyers took part in Operation Ordnance, the evacuation of the Hook of Holland, where a mixed force of Royal Marines and men from the Irish and Welsh Guards were stationed. Later they performed an escort role during the evacuation of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. During this part of the operation Versatile came under attack from German aircraft off the Hook of Holland with a bomb hitting the Engine Room. She had to be towed back to Sheerness by H.M.S. Janus for repairs. Notably Dawson was 'mentioned' for his role in these operations (London Gazette 25 June 1940, refers)

Versatile continued to serve with Nore command, although it is not clear that Dawson was still with her. Switching from an anti-invasion role to a convoy escort role in 1942. After the conclusion of hostilities Dawson transferred to the rank of Chief Electrician at H.M.S. Pembroke after the war. He died at Heydon Road Wood, Dalling, Norfolk on 5 September 1972; sold together with copied service papers, census data and blog posts as well as a medal roll and a London Gazette extract.

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Sold for
£500

Starting price
£170