The Rare Mesopotamia Campaign ‘Tigris Gunboats’ D.S.C. Group of 4 awarded Lieutenant-Commander John Gwyndd Wood, Royal Naval Reserve. Serving aboard the gunboat H.M.S. Espiègle under the command of Vice-Admiral Wilfred Nunn, he received a Mention in Despatches for his part in the attack on Ctesiphon and the subsequent withdrawal to Kut, and was later recommended for a D.S.O. (downgraded to a D.S.C.) for accepting the task of delivering an important communiqué from Major-General Charles Townshend to General Mellis, seeking supplies and reinforcements. Wood was sent down the River Tigris from Umm-al-Tubal Camp near Kut on 1 December 1915 in a motorboat at night, under very heavy fire, and was wounded in the process, but still completed his important task, comprising: Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately engraved (J. G. Wood 1915), bearing London hallmarks for 1916, with investiture pin to reverse, and in original fitted case of issue by Garrard & Co., the ribbon fitted incorrectly with two Mentioned in Despatches emblems as worn by the recipient; 1914-1915 Star (Sub. Lieut. J. G. Wood, R.N.R.); British War Medal and Victory Medals, 1914-1919 (Lieut. J. G. Wood. R.N.R.); The first separate in case of issue, trio swing-mounted as worn, with individually cased miniature D.S.C. and British War Medal by Garrard, and a miniature 1914-15 Star; various riband bars (7) and ribbons (4), nearly extremely fine (LOT) Also offered with: original, pencil-drawn map of the line of the British retreat along the Tigris from Umm-Al-Tubal to Kut, with named locations and annotations, framed together with the original handwritten letter from Major-General Townsend sent to General Mellis, dated 1 Dec. 1915, together beside with a later typed transcript; Naval Officer’s 1846-Pattern Dress Sabre (numbered 3116), in scabbard, with sword knot, original sword bag, and with leather sword belt & fittings, in sound, serviceable condition; original Buckingham Palace investiture invitation telegram, in glazed frame. D.S.C.: London Gazette: 25 October 1916 Sub-Lieutenant Wood was sent down the river Tigris from Umm-al-Tubal Camp in a motor-boat at about 2.00am, on the 1st of December, 1915, with an important message. He displayed great bravery under heavy fire, and was wounded. (continuing, as noted in his service record: Though he was unable to deliver the message, he behaved with great bravery, was being fired on wounded, one man in the motor boat being killed and one wounded.) M.i.D.: London Gazette: 10 May 1916 with reference to the attack upon Ctesiphon and subsequent withdrawal' Lieutenant-Commander John Gwyndd Wood was born on 27 April 1894 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, the son of John William Woods and Mary Ann Woods (ne Bailey). He joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 1 April 1913 and served as Midshipman between 6 August 1914 and 26 August 1915 aboard H.M.S. Alsatian. Wood was promoted to Acting Sub-Lieutenant on 27 April 1915 and after a short time at H.M.S. Vivid he was sent to serve aboard the Cadmus class sloop H.M.S. Espigle on 9 September 1915 (and, according to his service papers, H.M.S. Comet). The Espigle was the lead vessel of the gunboat flotilla sent up the river Tigris in support supporting Major-General Townshends 6th (Poona) Division, part of Indian Expeditionary Force D, as it aimed to engage hostile Turkish forces en route to the cities of Kut and Baghdad.As the British Indian forces moved north they achieved some early successes against the opposing Turkish forces and pressed on, utilizing their gunboats to good effect upon the enemys flanks. Townsend often used the Espigle as a floating headquarters given its raised viewpoint during battles, while leaving command of the naval flotilla to Vice-Admiral Wilfred Nunn, and it is likely that Sub-Lieutenant Wood and Major-General Townshend crossed paths many times in the process. After these first engagements, which included the capture of the strategic city of Kut-al-Amara, Townshends force led a major attack upon the city of Ctesiphon, within striking distance of Baghdad itself. Meanwhile, the Turkish forces in the area had plenty of time to prepare their defences, and were ready for the attack. Despite the hard and determined fighting by both sides between 22-25 November 1915, and very significant casualties, the battle resulted in a tactical draw, with both sides withdrawing exhausted to regroup. The British gunboat flotilla was heavily involved in this amphibious assault, and for his actions in this attack, Sub-Lieutenant Wood would later receive a mention in despatches. Having suffered withering casualties during the assault, Townshend took the fateful decision to withdraw his forces and to retreat to the city of Kut, a solid, defensible city secured on three sides by a loop of the Tigris. Sensing an opportunity, and despite having suffered his own heavy casualties, Lieutenant-General Nureddin seeing the British blink first and being their retreat chose to pursue his enemy and to encircle the city. Despite being relatively well-supplied and with a large force at his disposal, the Siege of Kut would later go down in history as one of the most comprehensive British defeats of the Great War. The British arrived at Kut on 30 November and accepted investment, and soon after this on 1 December 1915, Townshend sent Sub-Lieutenant Wood with an important handwritten message for General Mellis, seeking assistance (this letter forming part of this lot), reading as follows: [Camp, Umm-al-Tubal, 1/Dec/15, 1.30am] Dear Melliss, It appears from fires to my rear and flank as if the enemy have overtaken me. These fires may be Arabs of course I cannot tell till daylight. We have had considerable sniping in the night. I need not comment on the gravity of the case if the enemy hangs on to me, so I order you to turn back and come with all expedition to assist me. Your appearance coming to help me will stop the enemy and extricate me. You should manoeuvre round my outer (desert) or northern flank so as to envelope or turn the enemy. Yours sincerely, Charles Townsend, Major General P.S. Of course these fires may prove to be Arabs but it is such a grave matter that I must delay you and make certain of this force. Lose no time I shall move my transport at 7.30am and follow fighting a rearguard action if compelled to do so. C.V.F.T. Of course if I find at daylight that my fears are groundless I shall send messengers to tell you so. C.V.F.T. Leaving in complete darkness in the middle of the night on 1 December 1915, and under very heavy fire, Sub-Lieutenant Wood took a motorboat away from the besieged city, being wounded in the process, with one other crewmember wounded, and another killed in the escape. While the message was not, ultimately, delivered, and the gunboat later returned unsuccessfully to rejoin the flotilla, word did eventually reach Mellis via the other cavalry volunteers who had been sent out at the same time. This incident is also recorded in some detail in Tigris Gunboats: The Forgotten War in Iraq 1914-1917 by Vice-Admiral Wilfred Nunn, much in line with the details recorded in Woods service papers, stating that he (Nunn) arranged to send a motor-boat down the river. This was entrusted to Sub-Lieutenant Wood, R.N.R. The soldiers got through with their message all right, but in the pitch darkness the motor-boat was unable to find General Melisss column, which possibly was some miles from the river at the time. The motorboat therefore returned to the flotilla. She (Woods gunboat) had been heavily sniped both going and returning by Arabs on the river-banks, one man in the boat being killed in this gallant attempt, while Sub-Lieutenant Wood himself and the other man were wounded. (pg. 182-3). Various forces were sent towards Kut, each attempting to relieve the beleaguered force trapped inside the city, which over time was slowly reduced to starvation. With his force greatly reduced by malnutrition, illness and death, Major-General Townshend surrendered the city on 29 April 1916 147 days since the start of the siege with 13,000 Alllied soldiers taken as prisoners of war. Wood was later confirmed in his rank as Sub-Lieutenant on 27 April 1916, and continued to serve in the Great War aboard H.M.S. Virginian between 14 August 1916 and 16 May 1917, being promoted to Acting Lieutenant during this time. He was invested with the D.S.C. at Buckingham Palace, and retired at the rank of Lieutenant on 26 February 1918. He was later granted the retired rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 26 February 1926. He died on 22 July 1978 at Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Estimate: GBP 6000-8000