A Rare DSM to 2nd Class Sick Berth Abrahams For Royal Navy Siege Guns in Flanders

To 2nd Class Sick Berth Steward Arthur Clarence Abrahams for services with the Royal Navy Siege Guns in Flanders (France): George V (351689. A.C. ABRAHAMS, 2nd S.B.S. R.N. SIEGE GUNS. FLANDERS. 1917.). Naming is officially impressed. Replacement ribbon, very light contact, extremely fine. Accompanied by copies of his Service Records, Medal Awards List for the Distinguished Service Medal and the First World War Trio, along with the announcement of his DSM in the London Gazette.

Footnote: Arthur Clarence Abrahams was born on August 19, 1886 in Kensington, London, England. He was employed as a Clerk when he enlisted for twelve years' service with the Royal Navy, on August 14, 1907, five days shy of his twenty-first birthday. After his initial training at Victory I in Portsmouth, he was posted five days later to the Royal Hospital Haslar in Gosport, Hampshire, which was one of several hospitals serving the Portsmouth area. After seven months with Haslar, he return to Victory I on March 31, 1908 and was also confirmed as a Senior Reserve Attendant on the 31st. Abrahams was subsequently posted to Malta Hospital, a stint that would last more than twenty-five months, from October 7, 1910 to November 25, 1912 and it was during his posting at Malta Hospital, that he qualified as a 2nd Class Sick Berth Steward on April 1, 1911. He was posted to the Eclipse-class protected cruiser HMS Talbot for one week, from November 26, 1912 to December 4, 1912, before returning to Victory I. After forty-four months at Victory I, he was posted to the Adventure-class scout cruiser HMS Attentive on August 16, 1916. It was while he was attached to HMS Attentive, that 2nd Class Sick Berth Steward Arthur Clarence Abrahams was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for services with the Royal Navy Siege Guns in Flanders (France) in 1917, the announcement appearing in the Second Supplement to the London Gazette 30581 of Friday, March 15, 1918, on Saturday, March 16, 1918, page 3396 and in the Edinburgh Gazette of Tuesday, March 19, 1918, page 1059. The medal was delivered to him on April 16, 1918 at Dover. After twenty-nine months with HMS Attentive, he returning to Victory I on January 31, 1919 and was discharged from service on June 24, 1920. For his First World War service, 2nd Class Sick Berth Steward Arthur Clarence Abrahams was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. (C:64)