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From Sotherby's, January 1973

DSO GV 1918
QSA (0) (Lieut W J T Saunders HMS Sappho)
14-15 Star
BWM and VM

DSO for services with the Dover Patrol.

Joined the Merchant Service on China tea Trade in 1875. Served with the Dover Patrol throughout the war. Joined the Home Guard in 1939.

£80.

Eighty quid was certainly not an insignificant sum of money back then.

Picture courtesy of DNW

DSO GV;
QSA (0) (Ast. Engr. J. B. Nicholson. R.N. H.M.S. Sappho.);
1914-15 Star (Eng. Lt. Dr [sic]. J. B. Nicholson, R.N.);
British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Eng. Commr. J. B. Nicholson. R.N.);
Defence Medal

DSO London Gazette 27 June 1919: ‘For distinguished services at Engineer Officer of H.M.S. Royalist, 1st Light Cruiser Squadron.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 15 September 1916: ‘For services in action at Jutland on H.M.S. Royalist.’

James Bell Nicholson was commissioned Assistant Engineer in the Royal Navy on 1 July 1898, and joined H.M.S. Pelorus on 1 September 1899. He transferred to H.M.S. Sappho on 25 August 1900, and served in her during the Boer War. Transferring to H.M.S. Pandora on 7 November 1901, he was promoted Engineer Lieutenant on 1 April 1903, and joined H.M.S. Falcon on 27 October 1904; prior to the Great War he also served in H.M.S. Arrogant, Greyhound, Leviathan, and Isis, and was promoted Engineer Lieutenant-Commander on 1 April 1911.

Nicholson transferred to H.M.S. Royalist on 10 January 1915, and served in her throughout the Great War, being Mentioned in Despatches for his services at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916. He was promoted Engineer Commander on 25 December 1916, and for his services during the Great War was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Post-War he served in various shore based establishments, and transferred to the Retired List with the rank of Engineer Captain on 1 September 1926.

For his services during the Second World War Nicholson was awarded the Defence Medal; the verification card for this award (included with the lot), was issued by Cornwall County Council, and is addressed to ‘Engr. Capt. J. B. Nicholson, R.N., 1 Tamar Villas, Port View, Saltash, Cornwall.’

Picture courtesy of Bosley's

DSO GV and bar;
QSA (0) (LIEUT L.D. FISHER RN HMS SAPPHO)
AGS 1902 (1) Somaliland 1902-04 (LIEUT RN HMS MERLIN”,
1914/15 Star (COMMR RN)
BWM and VM (COMMR RN)
French Croix de Guerre with Palm.

DSO LG 1st January 1917 :In recognition of bravery and devotion to duty during minesweeping operations.Bar to the DSO LG 24th March 1919. “For minesweeping operations 1st July to 31st December 1918.French Croix de Guerre LG 17th May 1918.Commander Leslie Drew Fisher, D.S.O., R.N. was born at Reigate; entered the Royal Navy, as Midshipman in 1893; advanced to the rank of Lieutenant, 29 March 1900; with this rank he served onboard HMS Sappho an Apollo-class cruiser during the Boer War and during operations in Somaliland onboard HMS Merlin a Cadmus-class sloop at this time being used as a survey ship. He was promoted and appointed to the command of H.M.S. Electraa Destroyer as part of the Home Fleet and before his retirement from the Royal Navy in 1910 was given command of the Destroyer H.M.S. Spiteful . At the outbreak of the Great War he was reengaged as Lieutenant for Special Service, Firth of Forth with H.M.S. Columbine, for minesweeping duties. He was given command of H.M.S. Lilac for minesweeping operations in the North Sea, during his command Lilac struck a mine and appreciation was expressed for his conduct on this occasion, for valuable services rendered in connection with salvage of the vessel. After a short leave he was promoted to the Acting rank of Commander 3.9.1915 and returned to Columbine and rendered good service on the occasion of the discovery of a hostile minefield in the approaches to the Firth of Forth April 1916. He was invested with his D.S.O. at Buckingham Palace on the 14th November 1917; he added a Bar to his D.S.O. for services in minesweeping 1.7.1918 to 31.12.1918 By the end of the Great War he had been Mentioned in Despatches 4 times. He resigned his commission and at the outbreak of the Second World War once again now 59 volunteered and was ; reengaged for service at H.M.S. Claverhouse (Reserve Training Base), Edinburgh.

He died in 1953.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (0) (P. Lardy [sic], Dom., HMS Sappho.) small impressed naming, number after rate erased;
1914-15 Star (M2-053114 Pte. P. Lardi. A.S.C.);
BWM and VM (M2-053114 Cpl. P. Lardi. A.S.C.);
together with the recipient’s Silver War Badge, the reverse numbered ‘439139’

Approximately 254 (0) Queen’s South Africa Medals awarded to HMS Sappho.

Peter Lardi was born in High Holborn, London, on 1 January 1882 and joined the Royal Navy as a Domestic 3rd Class in HMS Sappho on 1 September 1900, serving in her during the Boer War before taking his discharge on 17 October 1901.

Following the outbreak of the Great War Lardi attested for the Army Service Corps on 14 March 1915, and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 20 May 1915. Promoted Corporal, he was discharged on account of sickness on 20 August 1918, and was awarded a Silver War Badge.

Picture courtesy of Spink

DSO GV;
QSA (0) (Ast. Engr. J. B. Nicholson. R.N. H.M.S. Sappho.);
1914-15 Star (Eng. Lt. Dr [sic]. J. B. Nicholson, R.N.);
British War and Victory Medals, with MID (Eng. Commr. J. B. Nicholson. R.N.);
Defence Medal.

DSO London Gazette 27 June 1919, the original recommendation states: 'Eng. Cdr. Nicholson has constantly performed his duties with great efficiency. On the 17 November 1917 the ship had been less than 3 days out of dockyard hands, and I consider it is due to this Officer's professional ability and painstaking attention to details on this, and all other occasions that the ship maintained a speed of at least 28 knots for a prolonged period and kept station on "Caledon" throughout the action.'

James Bell Nicholson was born at Richmond, Surrey on 12 December 1876, the son of George and Elizabeth Nicholson. His father was a naturalist and curator of Kew Gardens; the young Nicholson was educated at King's College London and later Keyham College where he earned a 1st Class Certificate in Engineering. Joining the Royal Navy with the rank of Assistant Engineer on 1 July 1899 Nicholson was serving in that rank with H.M.S. Sappho during her service during the Boer War in 1901. Promoted Engineer Sub-Lieutenant he was further advanced to the rank of Engineer-Lieutenant on 1 July 1903.

Accepted as a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers on 23 March 1907 whilst still Engineer-Lieutenant, Nicholson was married later that year (12 September) to Ella Astbury at St. Mary's Church, Mortlake. Promoted Engineer Lieutenant-Commander prior to the outbreak of the Great War, the Battle of Jutland on 31 May found him serving with HMS Royalist as part of the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron under Commodore Le Mesurier.

During the battle they served initially as an anti-submarine screen for the Grand Fleet; later they engaged the German destroyer screen and the squadron leader, HMS Calliope, launched a torpedo attack towards the main German Fleet before they withdrew back towards the British line. Nicholson received a 'mention' for his actions during the battle, during which Royalist performed well.

Transferring to the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron in August 1917, Royalist was present for the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight: a 'test trip' by a German Fleet, attempting to find a way through British minefields around Heligoland Bight, was detected by the British codebreakers of Room 40. As with Jutland the action opened with the two fleets escort screens, Royalist taking her place in formation next to the light cruiser Caledon. As the German battlecruisers came into range Caledon took a shell to the forward turret, causing heavy damage and forcing the squadron to withdraw under covering fire from the battlecruiser Repulse.

It was for this action that Nicholson was awarded the DSO and later promoted Engineer-Captain. Retiring from the military, his son - John Astbury Nicholson - continued family tradition by joining the Royal Naval Reserve. On the outbreak of the Second World War, Nicholson senior took on the role of ARP Warden for his local town of Saltash. A tribute to his efforts was reported in The Guardian and Gazette on 19 April 1945, which states:

'The Mayor, in making the presentation said that Capt. Nicholson's past career as an officer in the Royal Navy and his experience and knowledge of staff control, had proved a great asset. He felt sure they would be doing Capt. Nicholson less than justice if they passed on without comment his devotion to duty and unfailing courtesy to everyone.'

It was during his work as a Warden that personal tragedy struck, as his son (now Lieutenant Nicholson R.N.V.R.) was killed in action whilst serving aboard the trawler HMS Alouette on 19 September 1942. This vessel was torpedoed by U-552 off Sesimbra, Portugal - as part of the aft was still afloat after the first strike, a second torpedo was fired into the starboard side of the trawler, which sank immediately. At the time, Nicholson was described as a member of scientific staff with RRS Discovery 11 which implies he either saw work on arctic research or war duty with Discovery 11 as a RFA vessel.

Nicholson senior died at Saltash, Cornwall on 9 March 1952.