The rare Great War D.S.M. group of three to Corporal G. E. Hanham, Royal Marine Labour...

The rare Great War D.S.M. group of three to Corporal G. E. Hanham, Royal Marine Labour Corps, who was decorated for gallant rescue work when Dunkirk was attacked by enemy aircraft one night in August 1918 Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (DEAL/11264.(S) Pte. A./Cpl. G. E. Hanham, R.M.L.C. Dunkirk. 6. Aug. 1918.); British War and Victory Medals (DEAL 11264 -S- Act. Cpl. G. E. Hanham. R.M.) very fine (3) £1,200-£1,600 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Just seven awards of the D.S.M. to members of the Royal Marine Labour Corps. D.S.M. London Gazette 17 January 1919: ‘The following awards have been approved.’ A summary of the incident in question appears in Their Majesties’ Jollies: ‘On the night of 6-7 August 1918, the port of Dunkirk was heavily bombed by enemy aircraft. The dock area was extensively damaged and several huts of the Royal Marine Labour Corps were demolished and set on fire. Five Corporals and 21 Privates were wounded, several of whom subsequently died. Captain H. V. Fuller, R.M.L.I., without regard to his own safety, rallied a number of N.C.O.s and men and worked to release those men who had been trapped in the wreckage. They were carried to a dressing station about 100 yards distant. The work of rescuing the wounded and extinguishing the fire was carried out at great personal risk by all concerned as bombs were continuing to fall on the area.’ George Edward Hanham was born in Northampton on 16 April 1865, and joined the Royal Marine Labour Corps at Chatham in April 1917, aged 51. Embarked for Dunkirk as an Acting Corporal, he was awarded his D.S.M. for the above cited incident in August 1918; Captain Fuller was awarded the D.S.C. on the same occasion.