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Auction: 7012 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 546

The Rare Sea-Plane ´Spider´s Web´ Anti-Zeppelin, Submarine Patrol Great War D.S.O. Group of Five to Wing Commander O.H.K. ´James the One´ Maguire, Royal Navy, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force a) Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar b) Africa General Service 1902-56, E.VII.R., one clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (Lieut. O.H.K. Maguire, R.N. H.M.S. Philomel:) c) 1914-15 Star (Lieut. O.H.K. Maguire. R.N.) d) British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaves (Wg. Commr. O.H.K. Maguire. R.N.), extremely fine, mounted court style as originally worn, with the associated miniature awards, all housed in a custom made Gieves Ltd. case, the latter with ´O.H.K.M.´ embossed on lid, with hand written letter, dated 23.9.1917, from the Commander in Chief´s Office, The Nore, congratulating Maguire on his ´acting rate´, and recipient´s Protection Certificate, dated 1.11.1919 (lot) Estimate £ 2,600-3,000 D.S.O. London Gazette 1.10.1917 Act. Cdr. Owen Hugh Knox Maguire, R.N. ´For services on patrol duties and submarine searching in Home Waters.´ Wing Commander Owen Hugh Knox Maguire, D.S.O., born 1886; entered Royal Navy as a Cadet, 1902; after service off Somaliland as Lieutenant H.M.S. Philiomel he retired, 11.7.1910; re-engaged for the Great War, he commanded the gun-boat H.M.S. Bustard and was noted for his services during the Naval bombardment and attack upon the Belgian coast in co-operation with the Army, 22.7.1915-19.11.1915 (promoted Lieutenant-Commander 1.4.1916); transferred to Felixstowe Air Station he became known as ´James the One´ or ´Number One´ and ran the Station in the absence of the Commanding Officer, who for long periods was engaged in Experimental Seaplane research. The highly successful ´Spider´s Web´ Seaplane Patrol, devised at Felixstowe, commenced 13.4.1917, and in 12 months flew 105,300 nautical miles, sighted and reported 47 U-boats, bombed 25 of them, and destroyed one Zeppelin (D.S.O. 1.10.1917); On the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service into the Royal Air Force, 1.4.1918, Maguire is shown as Lieutenant-Colonel, and is recorded on 1.11.1919 as being employed at the Air Ministry as a Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel.

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£4,400