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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 237

The Great War D.S.O. group awarded to Rear Admiral Sir R. C. Jerram K.B.E., D.S.O., Royal Navy, who saw action with Lion at Dogger Bank, when she weathered a hammering which resulted in a ten degree list and later - in 1943 - became Secretary to Combined Operations HQ under Earl Mountbatten, serving as Comptroller in South East Asia

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; 1914-15 Star (Asst. Payr. R.C. Jerram. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Payr. Lt. Cr. R.C. Jerram. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953, mounted court style for wear, good very fine (11)

[K.B.E.] London Gazette 1 January 1945.

D.S.O. London Gazette 22 January 1920.

'For distinguished service on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet.'

M.I.D. London Gazette 5 April 1919.

Rowland Christopher Jerram was born on 20 February 1890 at Godalming, Surrey, the son of Charles Samuel Jerram. Educated at Hillside, Godalming and later Kings School, Canterbury, he was commissioned in the Royal Navy in 1907 and was transported at once to join HMS King Alfred at the China Station. He was promoted to Clerk, then joined HMS Invincible as part of the Home Fleet in 1910. In 1911, he was promoted to Assistant Paymaster and joined HMS Neptune, later making Paymaster Lieutenant in 1913.

During the First World War, Jerram served aboard HMS Iron Duke with the Grand Fleet, before joining HMS Lion and taking part in the Battle of Dogger Bank in 1915. Here Lion- Beatty's flagship- took seventeen hits, being holed below the waterline and taking on a list of ten degrees. Despite this , due in part to Beatty's tenacity, she remained in the fight for a good while before at last dropping out of the line of battle. In 1917 he joined HMS Queen Elizabeth which took part in the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet in November 1918.

After the war, Jerram was appointed Secretary to Admiral Sir Ernie Chatfield, (later Lord Chatfield), 4th Sea Lord. Remaining as Chatfield's secretary until 1940, during which time the Admiral had been appointed 3rd Sea Lord, C-in-C Home Fleet, C-in-C Mediterranean Fleet, First Sea Lord, Chairman of the Commission on the Defence of India and Minister for co-ordination of Defences. During this time Jerram also took promotions, being made Paymaster Lieutenant-Commander in 1921, Paymaster Commander in 1929 and Paymaster Captain in 1938. After the outbreak of the Second World War, Jerram served on HMS Cleopatra in 1942, that same year she was to see action during Operation Harpoon- the Battle of Pantelleria. After this she took part in both Operation Vigorous and Pedestal, attempts to re-supply the besieged island fortress of Malta.

Leaving Cleopatra in 1943 Jerram was appointed Secretary to Combined Operations HQ under Earl Mountbatten, whom he subsequently followed to the South-East Asian theatre as Comptroller HQ SACSEA from 1943-45.

After one further appointment as the head of the Admiralty Mission to the Mediterranean in 1945, Jerram retired as Rear-Admiral in December the same year. For his service during the Second World War he was richly awarded with a Knighthood on 1 January 1945. In 1950 he was appointed the Cornwall County Commissioner for St. John's Ambulance Brigade. Jerram died at Farnham, Surrey on 23 April 1981.

Four boxes of papers were given by Sir Rowland to the National Maritime Museum covering the period 1907 to 1958 under reference GB 0064 JRR.

The papers of Rowland Christopher Jerram, include journals, 1907-1914 and 2 large scrapbooks containing photographs, signals, orders and newspaper cuttings covering the first half of Jerram's career. Also present in the collection are 3 photograph albums, 1908-1932, and various letters, reports, newspaper cuttings, etc, relating to the major part of the Rear-Admiral's career, as well as his civilian activities, such as his position as Commander of the St. John Ambulance in Cornwall, 1949-1958.

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,400

Starting price
£800