The unique Great War London Omnibus Driver's D.S.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant (Road...

The unique Great War London Omnibus Driver’s D.S.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant (Road Inspector) A. Chouffot, Royal Marine Artillery, attached Motor Transport Company, Royal Naval Division and Royal Marines Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (99. S. Sergt. A. Chouffot. Motor Tpt. Coy. R.N. Division.); 1914 Star, with clasp (99. S. Sergt. Mechn. A. Chouffot, M.T. R.N. Div.); British War and Victory Medals (R.M.A. 99-S-.Sgt. A. Chouffot.), together with London Omnibus A.O.C.A. 1914 badge, gilt and enamel, the reverse numbered ‘543’, the third partially officially corrected and the last officially re-impressed, generally very fine or better (4) £3,000-£4,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Spink, July 2008. D.S.M. London Gazette 1 January 1916. ‘The following awards have been approved: Sergeant (Road Inspector) Alfred Chouffot, No. R.M.A./99 (S), R.N.D., Motor Transport Company.’ The recommendation states: ’R.N. Division Motor Transport Company. Antwerp 3-9 October 1914. For services at Antwerp. Throughout the time the Royal Naval Division Bus Company was running, he did excellent and efficient work, both in barracks and when on convoy duty. Displayed great ability.’ Alfred Chouffot was born in Barnsbury, London on 30 September 1887, and by profession a Road Inspector on joining the Royal Marine Artillery in September 1914. Quickly appointed a ‘Road Inspector Sergeant’, he was embarked for services in the Motor Transport Section of the Royal Naval Division. The creation of the Motor Transport Section arose at the time of the Royal Marine Brigade’s embarkation for Dunkirk in September 1914, when it was realised by the administrative staff of the Royal Naval Division that some additional method of transport was necessary. Consequently, under the orders of the First Lord of the Admiralty, 90 ‘B’ type buses of the London General Omnibus Company were purchased and dispatched to Dunkirk. At the same time their drivers were enrolled and sent to the Royal Naval Recruiting Office where they were attested as Marines. Stopping at Chatham or Eastney en-route, the ex-civilian drivers were fitted out with the uniforms and other equipment, prior to proceeding to their respective points of embarkation at Dover or Southampton, from whence they sailed to Dunkirk. Thus, it was, in a quite unique episode in the annals of war, that the London bus drivers commenced their wartime careers. Their splendid omnibuses, which to begin with were still decorated with garish advertisements, just as if setting off down Piccadilly, made a remarkable impression on the men and women of Flanders, even if the ill-fitting and incomplete uniforms of the drivers left a somewhat contrary impression. More importantly, they played a vital role, as did their gentlemen counterparts from the Royal Automobile Club, in supplying transport for the Naval and Marine Brigades in Antwerp, especially in respect of the evacuation of the wounded. Once the Royal Naval Division had returned to England, the unit was lent to the Army and proceeded to St. Omer, afterwards providing valuable service during the First and Second Battles of Ypres. During the latter they were particularly active: ‘All buses under Lieutenant Guest being ordered to Steenvorde and were there employed under fire between Hazeboruck and Vlamertinghe; on 29 April they note that they brought back 800 wounded and refugees. Again in the battle of Aubers Ridge and Festubert they had much to do.’ (Britain’s Sea Soldiers, by General Sir H. E. Blumberg, K.C.B., R.M., refers). Then in August 1915, after once more proving itself with all types of transportation, the unit was taken over permanently by the military establishment and became part of the Army Service Corps. Very few of the unit’s drivers transferred, however, and Chouffot was himself discharged in September 1915. In a short but much-admired life span, the Motor Transport Company, R.N.D., won three gallantry awards: a D.S.O. to Captain Leaf; a D.S.C. to Captain Summers; and a D.S.M. to Chouffot. Sold with copied research and photographs.