The rare Great War Dardanelles action C.G.M., post-Second War B.E.M. group of seven awarded...

The rare Great War Dardanelles action C.G.M., post-Second War B.E.M. group of seven awarded to Chief Yeoman of Signals A. A. Bishop, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallantry in H.M.S. Agamemnon in February 1915, when he continued to report to his captain after having his left leg shattered by a shell splinter
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, G.V.R. (201787 A. A. Bishop, Ch. Yeo. Sigs., H.M.S. Agamemnon. 25 Feb. 1917); British Empire Medal, E.II.R. (Albert A. Bishop, C.G.M.); 1914-15 Star, naming erased; British War Medal 1914-18 (201787 A. A. Bishop. C.Y.S. R.N.); Victory Medal, naming erased; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (201787 A. A. Bishop, Act. Ch. Yeo. Of. Sigs. H.M.S. Pembroke); France, Medaille Militaire, silver, silver-gilt and enamels, note Star and VM both erased, mounted as worn, very fine or better (7) £5,000-£7,000
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Importation Duty
This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK
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C.G.M. London Gazette 21 April 1917:
‘Showed great devotion to duty in action during the Dardanelles operations. After his left leg had been shattered above the ankle, this man raised himself into a sitting position and continued performing his duties and passing reports to his Commanding Officer.’
B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1954. For services as a storekeeper at Bloomfields Limited, Fish Salesmen, Great Yarmouth.
Albert Arthur Bishop was born in Smallburgh, Norfolk on 10 September 1882 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in November 1898. Having then qualified as a Signaller, he was serving as an acting Chief Yeoman of the Signals in the battleship H.M.S. Agamemnon on the outbreak of war in August 1914.
During a bombardment of the Turkish forts in the Dardanelles on 25 February 1915, Agamemnon was hit several times. The first of those hits struck the head of the main derrick and a splinter from it severely wounded Bishop, shattering his left leg above the ankle. News of the action reached home in the form of a letter from the Rev. Walter Scott, Agamemnon’s chaplain, who wrote:
‘He was standing on the forebridge in charge of the signalmen, when he was struck by a large splinter from a 9.4-inch shell from the enemy’s forts. Another Petty Officer, who was nearby, was killed; and the navigating officer, who was also there, was struck, but not seriously hurt. Before the ambulance party could arrive, Chief Yeoman Bishop most bravely read and reported a signal from the flagship to the captain, an act of great courage, of which mention has been made in the official despatches of the Admiralty. He was carried below, and it was found necessary to amputate the leg below the knee, an operation that was performed with great skill by the ship’s surgeons, and at the close of the action he was conveyed, still cheery, to a hospital ship with ten other wounded.
There I saw him today as cheery and as well as possible, and I am glad to say making the most excellent progress towards recovery, the wound almost being healed. I do not even think it will be necessary for him to leave the Navy, though of course for him there will be no more sea, but it is probable that some berth in Chatham barracks or some shore signal station will be found so that he may continue to be an ornament to the Royal Navy. I need not tell you how wonderfully brave he was, and I have no doubt but that he will in some way or other be rewarded. Whilst I must express my deep sympathy with you in the anxiety this must have caused you, I cannot help congratulating you on having such a splendid son.’
As verified by his service record, Bishop was awarded the French Medaille Militaire, in addition to his C.G.M. He spent the remainder of the war employed at shore establishments and was invalided from the service (amputation of leg) in November 1919.