IV submarine flottilla Hong Kong

Submitted by Jon Glencross on Wed, 06/26/2019 - 13:13

does anyone know about a medal called <the Grand Order of the Far East> given to people in Submarines of the IV Flotilla 1927-1929.......Defense of Chefoo 1927, Japanese Patrol 1927-1928, Bias Patrol 1927-1928 ??????

my GrandFather  (Capt John Buller Glencross) has this and i can find no info

Cheers Jon

I’ve not heard of it before but clearly bestowed due to military action. Think also medal bestowed from a non-Western organisation (e.g. Republic of China so might need to research a Chinese name equivalent) and civil fraternities e.g. was he member of a Masonic organisation. 

I assume you’ve got a copy of your grandfather’s service record - any clues in there where it might come from?

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7604427

There is no official single entity that represents the vast area of the “Far East”. It makes me wonder if this “Grand Order” could be a self-annointed civil fraternity group. Since the wording is entirely in English with no Chinese characters I can safely assume this “Grand Order of the Far East” has nothing to do with any Oriental organisation, but more an Occidental one.

In addition with official British military medals you don’t have the name of the recipient inscribed or engraved on the obverse of the medal...it should be on the rim...if it is inscribed. So these clues suggest that maybe this medal is a bespoke production done in appreciation of a service. 

My husband's grandfather, William Richmond Fell, has two photos in his 1928-1929 album labelled "Farewell to Captain Glencross". I've looked up his service record and the date for his departure seems to be February 1929:

"His final command appointment was as captain of Titania and as Captain (S) of the Fourth Submarine Flotilla, running from March, 1927 until he was superseded in February, 1929. His service with 4S.F. earned him the Grand Order of the Far East bearing inscriptions as:[12]"

(Footnote 12 reads "Email from Jon Glencross to Tony Lovell, 9 April, 2016 and following days.")

I will post the two photos separately in the HMS Titania Gallery. I'm not sure if I can successfully post them in this thread.

We don't know which of the family has WRF's medals. They are probably in New Zealand. We will try to find out, but don't think that he was at Chefoo.

Departure of Capt Glencross1.jpg
Departure of Capt Glencross1.jpg, by William Richmond Fell
Departure of Capt Glencross2.jpg
Departure of Capt Glencross2.jpg, by William Richmond Fell

HiJill

many many thanks for this. this is the first bit of knowledge that i have found/been given of this medal.

thank you so much for this. 

he retire to Somerset UK, and was recalled for a stint in WW2 when he was posted to Officer Commanding LondonDerry. 

later on after the war he took over helping to run the Family Estate in Cornwall after his senior Cousin died. 

His father was a Vicar and for awhile lived in Morval, Cornwall before retiring to Devon Port Plymouth.

stay safe and well

Cheers Jon

(now living in Canada)

Hi Jon,

I'm sure my grandfather-in-law would have been glad that his photos were useful to future generations. As to the Grand Order of the Far East, it seems clear that it was awarded to your grandfather for his service in the 4th Submarine Flotilla. I don't know anything about the Japanese Cruises, but that is one of the three things that the medal was awarded for. It would be useful to find the email correspondence cited between Tony Lovell and your grandfather. It must be somewhere. Presumably you have obtained the three National Archive documents mentioned by eurasian_david relating to your grandfather's service. It would be surprising if the National Archive or the Submarine Museum at Gosport had no record of this medal (both closed at the moment, I think). Meanwhile I'll let the combined expertise of Gwulo contributors have another crack at this problem, as naval history isn't my field. I agree that Chinese or Japanese characters would figure on the medal if either of those countries had been involved. Have a look at http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/John_Buller_Glencross

many thanks for this Jill, i do have his record, a short vertion, and the info from the link gives me more. i do have a Log and Jounal for 1901/03 . also know he served aboard a battleship (think the Lion) during Battle of Jutland/Dogger Bank where he picked up a piece of a German shell from the nose cone. 

and yes I have the Ship's Bell which we use for our Bell of our Local Navy League Cadets here in Gibsons BC Canada.

also i have his mess Jacket and Hat, and Dress Sword. also his Medals which i wear along with my fathers for Remembrance Day Parade.

Still dont know who or how he was presented with the Medal

Cheers Jon