Conspicuous Gallantry Medal awarded to Leading Seaman Arthur Robert Blore, Anson Battalion, Royal Naval Division.

The citation in the ‘London Gazette’ 19 September 1915 reads as follows: ‘The battalion having occupied a portion of the enemy’s fire trench on the 4 June, was engaged in digging communication trenches to a position in rear of it, on which they were consolidating the line. The officer being shot, Seaman Blore took charge of a party of 22, who advanced to cover the retirement. He shot two of the crew of a Turkish machine-gun enfilading the trench, and kept up a steady fire checking the enemy who were re-occupying it. He exhibited great bravery and power of leadership on a difficult occasion’.

This Conspicuous Gallantry Medal has the only bar ever awarded which was gazetted on 29 October 1918 by which time Blore had been promoted to Acting Chief Petty Officer. ‘When all company officers had become casualties, and the company was held up by heavy machine-gun fire, this petty officer took command of the company. He reorganised and led the men forward by rushes to the enemy position. When about 100 yards from the position enemy fire became very heavy and many casualties were caused to his command. Finding this, he went forward alone, and single-handed rushed the crew of a heavy machine-gun, shooting the gunners. The enemy position was then turned, and thereby captured. By his initiative and personal courage a strong position was taken and many casualties avoided. Twenty-seven enemy machine guns, all of which were captured, were afterwards counted covering the ground over which this company advanced’.

Arthur Robert Blore was born in 1890 and entered Collingwood Battalion, Royal Naval Division at the beginning of the First World War. He transferred to the Anson Battalion and served at Cape Helles, Gallipoli 1915. He was promoted to Acting Petty Officer and returned to the Western Front taking part in the Third Stage of the British Offensive, 2 September 1918. He was promoted to Chief Petty Officer in 1918. Blore died in 1947.

The medal is made of silver and has on the obverse the head of George V, crowned with the legend: ‘GEORGIVS V D:G:BR:OMN:REX:F:D:INDIAE:IMP’. On the reverse is the royal crown above a laurel wreath tied with a bow enclosing the inscription: ‘FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY’. Inscribed on the edge of the medal is, ‘LONDON 3146 A.R.CLORE, LG.SEAN. R.N.V.R. ANSON BN., R.N.DIV’. On the ribbon is a bar for the second award. The medal is suspended from a clasp and ribbon of equal stripes of blue, white and blue. It is mounted on a bar with four others: Military Medal (MED1861), 1914 Star (MED1862), British War Medal 1914-18 (MED1863) and Victory Medal 1914-18 (MED1864).