GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY 1212
A fine Great War anti-U-boat operations D.S.M. group of four awarded to Deck Hand S. Beck, Royal Naval Reserve, who remained at the gun of his armed trawler after being seriously wounded during a duel with an enemy submarine in June 1918
DISTINGUISHED SERVICEMEDAL, G.V.R. (SD. 2496 S. Beck, Dk. Hd., R.N.R., “Aisne”, Atlantic, 20 June 1918); 1914-15 STAR (S. D. 2496 S. Beck, D.H., R.N.R.); BRITISHWAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (2496 S.D. S. Beck, D.H., R.N.R.), generally good very fine (4)
£800-1000
D.S.M. London Gazette 5 October 1918: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’ The original recommendation states:
‘He displayed very great coolness and continued serving his gun after being wounded.’
Sydney Beck was born in Rochester, Kent, in April 1885 and, as a member of the Special Fishery Reserve, was enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve in August 1915.
Shortly thereafter joining the armed trawler Aisne as a Seaman Gunner, he was similarly employed on 20 June 1918, when in company with two other armed trawlers, the Aisne engaged and drove off a large enemy submarine, largely as a result of Beck’s gallant stand at his gun, where he received a serious shrapnel wound in his left thigh. The following account of the action appeared in The Derby Daily Telegraph:
‘A successful action which three trawlers, one unarmed, fought with a submarine is described. They were returning from the fishing- grounds when a U-boat opened fire at a range of 4500 yards. The skipper in charge at once instructed the unarmed trawler to keep clear and the two armed boats were brought round so that their guns could bear upon the German. The odds were all against these gallant fishermen, for the submarine appeared to be very long, and carried three guns. After firing several rounds it came in rapidly, and swinging broadside on, fired a salvo of shells at the trawlers and withdrew again.
Each of the skippers had taken up a position on the top of his wheelhouse, from which he directed the gunners' fire, assisted by deck- hands stationed in the rigging of the foremast. The German continued his tactics of swift rushes, and soon shells were falling all round the trawlers. When the unequal fight had lasted an hour the first trawler was hit on her starboard side, the shell piercing her bulwarks, deck, boiler casing, and boat. A shell splinter wounded the chief engineer who was on duty in the engine-room, and another shell burst on the port side, wounding the gunner in the leg, breaking the wheel-house windows, and penetrating both wheel-house and funnel.
Meanwhile the skipper of the second trawler was struck on the head by a piece of shrapnel. Although losing blood freely, he did not leave the roof, but hastily bandaging his wound with some handkerchiefs continued to direct the gunners. A few minutes later a shell burst within two feet of the taffrail, and the second gunner [Beck] was severely wounded by shrapnel in the leg. After that the second trawler was struck below the waterline, close to the rudder, and her after-end began to fill. The skipper thought his vessel would sink, but continued the action.
Again the submarine poured another broadside over the trawlers, but before she could draw off both vessels had replied with a couple of well directed-rounds, which the gunners are confident hit the enemy. At any rate, the German broke off the engagement and steamed away.
Although out-gunned, the trawlers had fought a highly successful action, and all three vessels were able to return in safety to port. The first trawler fired 36 shells and the second 17, as compared with the submarine's 200 rounds. In the words of the official report, ‘all ratings did their duty as British seamen, and said they would fight to the last.’ ’
Beck was transferred to the hospital ship China, and thence to the R.N. Hospital at Chatham, where he died on 12 November 1918, his condition having been complicated by pneumonia. He left a widow, and was buried in St. Margaret’s Cemetery, Rochester.
His C.O., Skipper W. J. Parish, R.N.R., was awarded the D.S.C. on the same occasion, the Vice-Admiral forwarding the recommendations stating ‘it was a fight and a victory typical of the men who were engaged in it. I consider the gallantry and determination displayed and the skilful handling of the situation during the action reflect the greatest credit on all concerned and call for an expression of their high appreciation.’
1213 A Great War ‘Auxiliary Patrol’ D.S.M. awarded to Engineman W. E. Harris, Royal Naval Reserve
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, G.V.R. (E.S.2227 W. E. Harris, Engn. R.N.R.,
H.M.Tr. Tourmaline, Aux. Patrol 1916) good very fine
£500-600 D.S.M. London Gazette 27 June 1917.
William Ernest Harris was born in Hull on 3 March 1884. Called out for service with the Royal Navy, March 1915-August 1919. Entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals. With copied gazette extract and service papers.
www.dnw.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236 |
Page 237 |
Page 238 |
Page 239 |
Page 240 |
Page 241 |
Page 242 |
Page 243 |
Page 244 |
Page 245 |
Page 246 |
Page 247 |
Page 248 |
Page 249 |
Page 250 |
Page 251 |
Page 252 |
Page 253 |
Page 254 |
Page 255 |
Page 256 |
Page 257 |
Page 258 |
Page 259 |
Page 260 |
Page 261 |
Page 262 |
Page 263 |
Page 264 |
Page 265 |
Page 266 |
Page 267 |
Page 268 |
Page 269 |
Page 270 |
Page 271 |
Page 272 |
Page 273 |
Page 274 |
Page 275 |
Page 276 |
Page 277 |
Page 278 |
Page 279 |
Page 280 |
Page 281 |
Page 282 |
Page 283 |
Page 284 |
Page 285 |
Page 286 |
Page 287 |
Page 288 |
Page 289 |
Page 290 |
Page 291 |
Page 292 |
Page 293 |
Page 294 |
Page 295 |
Page 296 |
Page 297 |
Page 298 |
Page 299 |
Page 300 |
Page 301 |
Page 302