United Kingdom. The Royal Navy Reserve Blue Serge Dress Uniform of DSM Recipient Lieutenant Horace D.H. Osborne

The blue serge dress uniform belonging to Distinguished Service Medal recipient Lieutenant Horace David Herbert Osborne of the Royal Navy Reserve serving onboard HMT Fyldea, consisting of:

1. The dress blouse, constructed of dark navy blue whipcord woven wool with a traditional turned-down collar that transitions into short lapels terminating at breast-height. The collar is flanked on both sides by stiff sewn-on shoulder boards that are fastened to the uniform at the shoulder via two stitches, as well as via a small single fire-gilded bronze button featuring a crowned fouled anchor surrounded by a rope, measuring 17 mm in diameter. The shoulder boards are decorated with a single strip of gilded bullion wire tresse near the shoulders, along with an upper strip of tresse that is looped onto itself with a central hand-embroidered “R” denoting that this tunic belonged to a member of the Royal Navy Reserves. This blouse features dual pockets at breast height that are secured shut with a flap and a single matching fire gilded naval button. Above the left pocket is a medal ribbon bar consisting of a ribbon consisting of three equally wide stripes of dark blue, white, and dark blue, with a thin dark blue stripe down the centre of the white. It is fastened to the tunic via a horizontal pinback and appears original to the uniform. The tunic can be buttoned-up via a series of three larger fire-gilded vertically mounted Royal Navy buttons, measuring 24mm in diameter, mounted onto the right side, and meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the opposing side. At waist-height, mounted horizontally on the right side of the blouse, are a series of three black bakelite buttons, that meet a single reinforced buttonhole on the opposing side for flexible size adjustment. The sleeves are plain and undecorated, featuring a cuff that is secured shut via a single integrated hidden bakelite button. The interior is completely unlined, without pockets, featuring only a strip of fabric sewn to the interior of the collar to act as a loop for hanging, as well as a white fabric label at the base of the back portion, stamped with “Admiralty - Blue Serge Working Dress Blouse Officer’s - Size No. 7” with height, breast, and waist measurements, along with the maker mark “H. Lotery & Co. Limited 4044”. It measures approximately 42 cm across the shoulders (seam to seam), with a sleeve length of 58 cm, and an overall length of 63 cm. 

2. The dress trousers, constructed of matching dark navy blue whipcord woven wool with a 33 cm long vertical slit in the centre of the front, secured shut via a series of four vertically mounted black bakelite buttons mounted on the right side, along with a single black bakelite button mounted on the left side, all meeting a reinforced button-hole on the opposing side. This pair features a single large vertical slit pocket on each side towards the front, lined on the inside with off-white cotton-blended fabric that also forms the partial lining along the waist of these trousers. There is also one equally-lined horizontal-slit pocket on each side of the rear, each secured shut via a single black bakelite button - with the right-side button broken in half but still functioning as it should.

On the exterior along the waist are a total of five small bakelite buttons for the attachment of suspenders. There is a neat dual-sided fold in the pant legs, terminating at the bottom without cuffs. These trousers measure approximately 40 cm across the waist, with a pant length of 111 cm, and an inseam of 76 cm. This dress uniform is extremely well preserved with minimal wear visible, with the exception of a single moth bite directly below the first button on the trousers. The black bakelite button on the right side to the rear of these trousers is partially broken off, but this does not impede the function of the button itself. It is in overall near mint condition, without stains, rips, or tears of any kind. 

Footnote: This tunic is accompanied by a naval message stemming from HMT Fyldea originally found in one of the breast pockets. His Majesty Trowlers Fyldea was launched on February 15th, 1930 and officially completed late 1934 for civilian use. It was requisitioned for war service in 1936, adapted for use as a minesweeping trawler in the Royal Navy, and was again completed on January 30th, 1942. Before her service in the Royal Navy, HMT Fyldea (FY666) took part in the evacuation of allied troops from the Dunkirk area from May 26th to June 4th, 1940, codenamed Operation Dynamo. 

The message contained in the uniform describes the events that transpired on August 24th, 1942 in great detail, including the sinking of HMS ML103 in the Dover Straits due to sailing into a minefield. HMT Fyldea responded and aided in the rescue of the survivors. Horace David Herbert Osborne (Lieutenant - JX. 24I602) was the only recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal serving on board HMT Fyldea during that time. He was born on June 30th, 1915 to parents William John Osborne and Mother Frances Annie Tunnidge. He married his wife Ethel Kathleen Johnson in 1940 at the age of 25. He is listed in the London Gazette on September 14th, 1943 as the recipient of The Distinguished Service Medal for skill and daring in successful minesweeping operations. He died on September 6th, 1986 in Essex, England. Following the Second World War, HMT Fyldea was sold to The Ocean Steam Trawling Co. Ltd and renamed H160. Ownership changed multiple times and she was sold for demolition on February 8th, 1958.