An Early and Highly Important
Submariner's
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL.
1914-15 Trio and Long Service Good Conduct Medal (HMS BIRMINGHAM)
for
'The Battle of Heligoland Bight'
28th August 1914.
To:
223295. E. HOLCOMBE. L.STO.
(Edge also Impressed "SUBMARINE SERVICE 1917 ")
....also including
Ernest Holcombe's original Velum 'Certificate of Service'
The Battle of Heligoland Bight, 28th August 1914, was one of the earliest and most important actions of World War I as it not only marked the opening of The Great War from the Royal Navy's point of view but was also just about the first time a foreign power, in this case Germany, had fired a serious shot at the RN since The Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 ! It was also perhaps an even more important battle as it seriously caught the Germans wrong footed at the very outset of the conflict and raised the British morale to a very great extent.
Submarine warfare technology was in its complete infancy at this time and this extremely rare D.S.M. award was one of the very first medals of its kind to be made in World War One.
We have handled only one other in the last 15 years.
The group comes complete with Ernest Holcombe's original Velum service document which records an amazing 36 year naval career which started at age 17, as a Boy 2nd Class in December 1902 and continued until October 1938.
This rare and important documnent is the first "Submarine Service" example which I have ever seen intact with a gallantry medal for WW1.
The DSM is confirmed in VERY BIG letters on Page One along with confirmation of his trio and LSGC ( 1st October 1925) as is the nature of the action for which this wonderful medal was awarded.
"(Paid Prize Bounty) ... for the destruction of Enemy Ships in the Heligoland Bight Action. 28th August 1914 "
Also included in this totally unique offering are :
The RAF medals to Mr Holcombe's son;
2254296. Cpl M.C.R. HOLCOMBE R.A.F.
1939-45 Medal, GVI GSM "MALAYA" QEII CSM "SOUTH ARABIA" QEII L..S.G.C. (RAF)
Direct from the family of the recipient(s), a Very Rare Opportunity to obtain for your collection one of the finest Submarine Galantry Awards you could wish for, with an extra bonus of some excellent RAF service medals to his son.
The DSM and War medals are somewhat polished and pitted due contact with the Star, but all the naming throughout is 100% 'spot on' .
Mr Holcombe is known to have worn this medal for many years on his jacket
(often without the other medals)
Mr Holcombe was born C of E on 6th March 1885 at Slinden, Sussex and later lived at West Wittering, Sussex.
A classic "Old Salt's gallantry group made to a brave early submariner at the very dawn of Submarine warfare.
SOLD