A most unusual Great War D.S.O. group of six awarded to Captain (Retired-Admiral, R.N.) T. P...

A most unusual Great War D.S.O. group of six awarded to Captain (Retired-Admiral, R.N.) T. P. Walker, Royal Naval Reserve, who was in command of H.M. Armed Yacht Aegusa when she was sunk by a mine in the Mediterranean in April 1916 Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R. silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Perak (T. P. Walker. Midn. R.N. H.M.S. “Modeste”); 1914-15 Star (Capt. T. P. Walker, R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. T. P. Walker. R.N.R.); Italy, Kingdon, War Cross, mounted as worn, minor chips to wreaths on the first, otherwise early extremely fine (6) £2,400-£2,800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1918: ‘In recognition of services in the prosecution of the war. Thomas Philip Walker, R.N.R. (Admiral, Retired).’ Italian War Cross London Gazette 22 January 1922. Thomas Philip Walker was born in Bedford on 16 September 1858, and entered the Training Ship Britannia in January 1872. He was appointed Midshipman in Modeste in December 1873 and served with the Laroot Field Force during the operations against the Malays in 1875-76 (Perak Medal and Clasp). He served as Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Yacht Victoria & Albert in 1879, was a Member of the Naval Intelligence Department from April 1896 to March 1899, and Assistant to the Admiral Commanding Coastguard and Reserves from April 1906 to March 1908. Walker was appointed A.D.C. to the King from February 1907 to 22 March 1908, when he was promoted to Rear-Admiral. He retired in September 1911, advancing to Vice-Admiral (Retired) in May 1913, and to Admiral (Retired) in April 1917. Following his retirement in 1911, Walker was appointed an Assessor under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act to attend Admiralty Appeals in the House of Lords. Admiral Walker was granted a temporary commission as a Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve in 1914, and saw active service afloat in command of H.M. Armed Yacht Aegusa, which arrived in the Mediterranean at the end of 1915. On 13 April 1916, Walker received a wireless intercepted message that a submarine had been sighted at 8 a.m., and proceeded towards the reported position. Before arriving there, he received news that the enemy had apparently gone towards the Adriatic, and accordingly altered course, hoping to catch her before sunset. At 5.35 p.m. a steamer was observed about five miles off, and almost immediately afterwards a submarine was seen coming away from the steamer. The submarine fired a torpedo which caused the ship to heel over and sink. In the meantime the Aegusa had opened a deliberate fire at 8,000 yards. The enemy was making off at full speed on the surface in an easterly direction, and soon submerged, thus escaping. A fortnight later the Aegusa was lost off Malta when she was sunk by a mine. There was happily no loss of life and Walker went on to get the D.S.O. as a Retired Admiral in his sixtieth year. He was the author of Seamanship Examination Questions of the Training Squadron, 1891; Editor of Captain Alston’s Seamanship, third edition revised and enlarged; and also of Nare’s Seamanship. Admiral Walker died on 27 August 1932. Sold with copied research including record of service.