Description

Offered is a Great War Distinguished Service Medal awarded to Deck Hand J. W. Grimmer, Royal Naval Reserve, for service in action with enemy submarines

Distinguished Service Medal, (G.V.R) impressed named DA.67070. J.W. GRIMMER. DK.HD R.N.R. “PRIDE OF BUCHAN”, AUX PATROL 1918. Comes with copies service record, medal rolls, London Gazette extract and 1911 census.

Note: The impressed naming runs the entireity of the medal rim!

D.S.M. London Gazette 20 September 1918. This gazette covers 1 January 1918 – 30 June 1918 and was for service in action with enemy submarines.

John William Grimmer was born at Martham, Norfolk in March 1876. A seaman by trade he enlisted in the Royal Naval Reserve on 6/4/1915. He served on the Pride of Buchan from July (?) 1915 to 1/12/1918 as a deck hand. The Pride of Buchan was a drifter built in 1908 and hired by the Admiralty 1915 – 1919 as a net vessel for the Dover Barrage.

The Dover Barrage consisted of a 25km series of so-called light steel indicator nets anchored to the sea bed at various depths and used to effectively capture enemy submarines by entanglement. The indicator nets were accompanied by minefield layers, also at various depths. Finally, British destroyers were deployed to patrol the area. He was awarded his D.S.M. for service aboard Pride of Buchan whilst carrying out these duties and became involved in action with a U boat.

Also entitled to the 1914 – 15 Star, War and Victory medals.