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Auction: 23002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 80

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

The impressive Great War Submarine Commander's D.S.O. group of six awarded to Captain J. B. Glencross, Royal Navy, who spent almost his entire career of some thirty-plus years as an officer in the 'Silent Service', from its earliest days in the post-Edwardian era through to the eve of the Second World War

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, top riband bar adapted for mounting; 1914-15 Star (Lt. Commr. J.B. Glencross, D.S.O. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Commr J.B. Glencross. R.N.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted for wear, first with slight enamel damage to reverse centre, very fine (6)

D.S.O. London Gazette 2 November 1917:

'In recognition of their services in submarines in enemy waters.'

John Buller Glencross was born in July 1885 and attended H.M.S. Britannia (the precursor to today's Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth), passing out in September 1901. His reports indicate he showed exceptional promise from a young age and were clearly an indicator of further good work to come.
Within a month of leaving Britannia he was appointed to the Diadem-class protected cruiser H.M.S. Niobe in the Channel Squadron, before removing to the new pre-dreadnought battleship H.M.S. Bulwark for a tour of duty in the Mediterranean; she was additionally the flagship of Admiral Sir Compton Domvile, Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean Fleet.
Thence transferring to destroyers (H.M. Ships Erne and Greyhound respectively) on 21 July 1906 Glencross was sent to H.M.S. Thames, the submarine depot ship at Portsmouth. Promotion to Lieutenant followed in April 1907 and for the next six years he served exclusively on submarines - a service very much in its infancy as a viable weapon of war, and undoubtedly beset with hardship and peril. In June 1909 he was appointed to command of the coastal submarine B 7, but at the end of October 1913 was removed from the 'silent service' and appointed one of the four Lieutenants aboard the battlecruiser H.M.S. Lion, flagship of the First Battle Cruiser Squadron and headquarters of Rear-Admiral David Beatty, who was soon to become one of the best-known Naval officers of the Great War. Being appointed to a flagship was no mean feat and ensured active and promising officers caught the eye of those with power and influence: perhaps Beatty himself noticed Glencross's exceptional abilities as a rising star himself in the Royal Navy and may have had something to do with the latter's promotion to Lieutenant-Commander on 1 April 1915.

Four months later, Glencross departed H.M.S. Lion for the submarine depot ship H.M.S. Bonaventure - from now on there were no further breaks on surface ships. On 1 January 1916 he was appointed to another depot ship, H.M.S. Dolphin, to oversee completion of the 'E' Class submarines E 53 and E 55: he appears to have commanded both. On 16 August 1917 he was appointed to the command of L 7, a short time later being awarded the D.S.O. with his officers' file noting the award: 'For long and arduous service in command of an...submarine during the third period of the war.'

Promoted to Commander in June 1918, in August the same year he had the misfortune to be appointed to command the 'K' Class submarine H.M.S. K 14: these experimental vessels were propelled by steam and designed to operate largely on the surface alongside surface ships of the battle fleet - they swiftly became known as the 'Kalamity Class' for being involved in several fatal accidents: of 18 built, none were lost through enemy action but six sank in accidents which resulted in huge loss of life. Thankfully, however, Glencross's time in command of this unusual type of submarine appears to have been uneventful and saw him through until the end of hostilities.

Post-War and Retirement

From October 1919 more senior positions and responsibilities came his way: a stint at H.M.S. Crescent was followed by a post working with the Director of Naval Equipment; in April 1924 he was appointed to command the submarine depot ship H.M.S. Cyclops, before removing to H.M.S. Vulcan as commander of the Sixth Submarine Flotilla. Promoted Captain on 31 December 1925, his final command was as captain of H.M.S. Titania and consequently Captain (S) of the Fourth Submarine Flotilla; this posting saw him serve for several years in the Far East including Hong Kong, Singapore, and off the coast of Japan.

Placed on the Retired List at his own request on 1 April 1930, when war broke out nine years later Glencross was appointed to H.M.S. President as the Naval Representative on the Joint Recruiting Post at the University of Exeter; at some stage he also appears to have been posted to Northern Ireland as Officer-in-Charge, Londonderry. Retiring to the ancestral home of Luxtowe House in Liskeard, Cornwall, Glencross died on 25 September 1962.

Sold with the following archive:

(i)
Fitted presentation case for the D.S.O., by Garrard & Co. Ltd., together with the original bestowal document for the award, made out to the recipient, dated 2 November 1917 and signed 'George R.I.', a copy of The Statutes of the Distinguished Service Order, and the original On His Majesty's Service large-format forwarding envelope, addressed to the recipient at 'Submarine L7, H.M.S. Ambrose'.

(ii)
The recipient's Navigation Certificate, dated 21 December 1904 at H.M.S Bulwark, Devonport; a Royal Navy 'Certificate of Character', dated 1 January 1903-29 December 1904, referring to the recipient as a 'Very zealous, hard working & promising' officer, obtaining the highest-possible score of 100 marks in three of his four entries.

(iii)
29 certificates of conduct, dated 1901 - 1921, each made out in full and referring to the recipient, with many glowing testimonies of his conduct including examples such as: 'To my entire satisfaction in every way. A most zealous, reliable and capable submarine Captain'.

(iv)
A Log Book, dated September 1901 - June 1903, large format and bound in canvas, referring in detail to H.M. Ships Magnificent, Niobe and Bulwark, containing over 100 completed pages of hand-written text relating to the daily life of the recipient whilst aboard the above-mentioned ships and interspersed with a number of charming hand-drawn and coloured technical drawings.

(v)
A Journal, dated July 1903 - December 1904, large format and bound in canvas, referring in detail to H.M.S. Bulwark, containing some 90 pages of hand-written text relating to the daily life of the recipient aboard this vessel whilst in the Mediterranean and interspersed with a number of wonderfully-detailed hand-drawn and coloured technical drawings.

(vi)
A Pilotage book, dated October - November 1905, large format and bound in linen, referring to the recipient's 'Examination for Pilotage for the Rank of Lieutenant', containing some 90 pages of hand-written text relating to technical elements of life at sea including pages on Light Vessels; Compasses; Heeling Error; Tide Examples; Fixing Positions by Cross Bearings; and Winds; profusely illustrated with detailed coloured drawings and sketches.

(vii)
A family photograph album, large format, relating to Luxtowe House, home of the Glencross family, circa 1890, containing some 30 pages of black-and-white photographs of members of the family and views of the house. Luxtowe House is still in existence.

(viii)
A photograph album, large format, containing approximately 130 original black-and-white photographs relating to the recipient, most concerning his service in the Royal Navy including many large-format, charting his career from early days at H.M.S. Britannia through to service on submarines, most fully annotated either above or below with dates, locations and subjects including ships, officers, and notable individuals such as Admiral Sir Henry Keppel and Kaiser Wilhelm II. Also a number of picture-postcards and several Naval dinner menus.

(ix)
A photograph album, large format, containing approximately 220 original black-and-white photographs relating to the recipient, many of a civilian nature (including holidays, picnics and sporting events) but several good military subjects and scenes, including the officers of H.M.S. Lion in 1914 (including both Glencross and Admiral Beatty); Battlecruisers at sea; H.M.S. Audacious sinking after hitting a mine; submarines (including E 53 and K 8; and three large-size original photographs of Admiral Beatty and H.M. King George V respectively; also a number of newspaper cuttings together with some song sheets, menu cards and associated ephemera. Albums a little worn and slight damage in places to outside covers, this not affecting contents; Journal and Log Book in good sound condition.

It should be noted that this archive represents an important and fascinating glimpse into the life of an officer of the Royal Navy from the turn of the century through to the Great War and beyond, through a plethora of previously unseen and unpublished photographs. Viewing is highly recommended. For the recipient's miniature dress medals, uniforms, sword, and other related items see Lots 81, 138, 154 and 155.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£2,900

Starting price
£1900