GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY 1221 A rare Great War Q-Ship action D.S.M. awarded to Quarter Master J. Drinkall, Mercantile Marine
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, G.V.R. (J. Drinkall, Qr. Mr. (M.M.), Special Service Feb. 1916), edge nicks, good very fine £600-800
D.S.M. London Gazette 6 September 1916.
John Drinkall was serving in the Q-Ship Margit at the time of winning his D.S.M., her encounter with the U-35 off Malta on 17 January 1916 undoubtedly the reason behind his award. Q-Ships and Their Story, by E. Keble Chatterton, takes up the story:
‘In December 1915, the steamship Margit had been fitted out as a decoy, and on 17 January 1916, in Lat. 35.34 N., Long. 17.38 E., she was steering west for Malta, when she received S.O.S signals on her wireless. The time was 9.30 a.m., and presently shots were seen falling close to the S.S. Baron Napier, who was five miles to the southward. The captain of the Margit was Lieutenant-Commander G. L. Hodson, R.N., who then hoisted the Dutch ensign and altered course towards the Baron Napier. The latter kept making signals that she was being shelled and that the submarine was approaching; but when Margit got within a couple of miles the submarine transferred the shelling to her. Margit’s captain conned his ship, lying prone on the bridge and peering through the chinks in the bridge screen. In order to lure the enemy on he pretended to abandon ship, hoisted the international signal ‘I am stopped,’ and sent away the ship’s lifeboat with Sub-Lieutenant McClure, R.N.R., in charge. The ship now had every appearance of having been abandoned, but in addition to the captain lying unseen on the bridge, the guns’ crews, under Lieutenant Tweedie, R.N.R., and a Sub-Lieutenant, were remaining hidden at their stations. Riflemen were similarly placed on the foredeck and aft.
After the “panic party” had been sent away in the boat the enemy seemed fairly satisfied, ceased shelling, dived, and then reappeared a quarter of an hour later 800 yards away, with a couple of feet of periscope showing. He was now going to make quite sure this was no trap, so, still submerged, he came within 50 yards of Margit’s port side and then right round the ship, scrutinizing her carefully. At length, being apparently quite convinced that all was well, he steered for Margit’s boat about a thousand yards away and came to the surface. Three men then appeared on the submarine’s deck, the German ensign was hoisted, and one of them waved Margit’s boat to come alongside. This was as far as Lieutenant-Commander Hodson deemed it advisable to let matters go. Giving the orders to down screens, open fire, and hoist the White Ensign, the enemy now came under attack. One shot seemed to hit abaft, the conning-tower, and the submarine submerged, so fire was ceased and Margit proceeded to pick up her boat. The davit-falls had only just been hooked on when the submarine showed her conning-tower 70 yards off, apparently in difficulties. The Q-ship therefore opened fire once more, but the enemy again submerged. Unfortunately the submarine had not been sunk, although no effort had been neglected. From 9.30 a. m. to about midday officers and crew had been compelled to keep in cramped, tiring attitudes, with very little knowledge of what was going on; and after he had finally disappeared Margit had remained for about three hours in the hope that he might return. By a curious coincidence, at the time when Baron Napier was being attacked, another steamer, the Baron Ardrossan, belonging to the same owners, happened to be passing and saw the shells dropping around, but as she could steam nothing better than 3 knots slower than Baron Napier she could not go to her assistance. However, if the submarine had not been destroyed, Margit had saved the Baron Napier and caused the enemy to break off the engagement.’
Admiralty correspondence would suggest that the
D.S.Ms awarded to Drinkall and another crew member, Leading Seaman F. W. Andrews, were added to the original list of recommendations at a slightly later date; sold with copied research and related article from The Review, “Connections”, by Geraint S. Griffith.
1222
A Great War D.S.M. pair awarded to Leading Mechanician J. W. Walker, Royal Naval Air Service
DISTINGUISHED SERVICEMEDAL, G.V.R. (F.12468 J. W. Walker, Lg. Mech. R.N.A.S. 1917); FRANCE,MEDAILLEMILITAIRE, enamelled, extremely fine (2)
£800-1000
D.S.M. London Gazette 1 May 1918. ‘The following awards have been approved to men of the Royal Naval Air Service for zeal and devotion to duty during the period from 1st July to 31st December 1917.’
Recommendation reads: ‘This rating has been on a large number of patrols at great distances. He took part in an attack on a Zeppelin in the neighbourhood of Terschelling. He formed one of the crew of the “H.12” which picked up the crew of the “D.H.4” on September 5th 1917. I recommend this rating for the Distinguished Service Medal.’
John William Walker was born in York on 26 January 1896. A Fitter and Turner by occupation, he entered the R.N.A.S. as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class in H.M.S. President on 8 March 1916. He was subsequently stationed at Aberdeen, Crystal Palace, Yarmouth, and Eastchurch, attaining the rank of Leading Mechanician in November 1917. When based at Yarmouth he was awarded the D.S.M. for his services, firstly in an attack on Zeppelins near Terschelling and secondly as one of the crew of the “H.12” which rescued the crew of a “D.H.4.” The two aircraft were on patrol together when the “D.H.4” had to descend to the sea due to engine failure. Squadron Leader Vincent Nicholl, D.S.C. and Flight Commander Leckie, D.S.C. of the “H.12” landed and picked up the crew of the downed seaplane but were unable to ascend because of the rough sea and the added weight. The “H.12” was adrift for three and a half days in strong winds and heavy seas, the men being forced to continually ‘bail out’, before the two crews were picked up by H.M.S. Halcyon. For their services, Nicholl was awarded the D.S.O. and his crewman, Walker, the D.S.M. Walker’s papers further record the award of the French Medaille Militaire. He later served as a Flight Sergeant in the R.A.F. With copied service papers and recommendation. Also with extracts from Diary of a North Sea Air Station by P. Snowden Gamble - in which Walker is mentioned several times with regard to the above and other actions.
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