Description: The Distinguished Service Medal was the main gallantry medal given to naval ratings during the First World War, with over 4,000 medals being awarded. The citations for these awards are difficult to identify in surviving documents, which has meant that the reason why many of the awards were made has remained somewhat enigmatic.
Brief description: Dr Simon Eyre's previous books includes The Distinguished Service Medal: The first 25 Years (published by Spink Books) which provides a comprehensive account of the use of this medal during the First World War and the inter-war years. He has also written a detailed account of the Naval Surgeons who served during the First World War and also the Skippers of the Royal Naval Reserve serving during the same conflict. He has worked for nearly 30 years in General Practice in East Sussex but has also lived and worked extensively in East Africa, and is a Fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of General Practitioners. He is married to Ann, and they have four children and eleven grandchildren.