Distinguished Service Medal 1914-1936

Distinguished Service Medal awarded to Petty Officer Percy Stanley Inge. The block citation in the 'London Gazette' 23 July 1918 reads as follows: 'The following awards have been approved for services during the operations against Zeebrugge and Ostend on the night of the 22-23 April 1918'. The British attempted to block the port of Zeebrugge in order to stop German destroyers and U-boats reaching the sea. Three cruisers HMS 'Intrepid', 'Thetis' and 'Iphigenia' were stripped and filled with concrete to act as blockships across the mouth of the canal. On completion of this operation the crew from these vessels got into the boats and were duly picked up by other vessels under heavy fire. PO Inge served on board HMS 'Intrepid'.

On the obverse of the medal is the bust of George V in naval uniform and the inscription: 'GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN:REX ET IND:IMP'. On the reverse is the Royal crown above and a laurel wreath tied with a bow enclosing the inscription: 'FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE'. On the edge of the medal is the inscription: 'J1840 P.S.INGE, P.O. "INTREPID" ZEEBRUGGE-OSTEND 22-23 APRIL 1918'. The medal is fitted with a bar and a dark blue ribbon with a broad white central band divided by a narrow dark blue stripe. It is mounted on the bar with six others: 1914-15 Star (ZBA0316), British War Medal 1914-18 (ZBA0317), Victory Medal 1914-18 (ZBA0318), 1939-45 Star (ZBA0319), Defence Medal 1939-45 (ZBA0320) and War Medal 1939-45 (ZBA0321).

Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London