A Great War Q-ships D.S.M. pair awarded to Stoker T. H. Owens, Royal Naval Reserve, who participated in a ballot for the Victoria Cross

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (8362S. T. H. Owens, Sto., R.N.R.), an official replacement named in small impressed capitals; Royal Naval Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (357 E.U., Engn. R.N.R.) very fine (2) £600-700

D.S.M. London Gazette 2 November 1917. Awarded for Dunraven’s famous last fight with a German submarine on 8 August 1917.

Stoker Thomas Owens served in all three of Captain Gordon Campbell’s famous Q-ships, Farnborough, Pargust and Dunraven. In Farnborough he participated in all three actions, accounting for the U-68 on 22 March 1916, and the U-83 on 17 February 1917, in which action the Farnborough herself was sunk by torpedo. In Pargust’s action on 7 June 1917, the UC-29 was sunk but Pargust was herself torpedoed and subsequently beached, a total loss. It was for this action that Stoker Owens ‘Participated in ballot for the award of the Victoria Cross to one of ship’s company of H.M.S. Pargust, June 1917.’ Joining Dunraven at the end of July 1917, he took part in her action with a German U-boat on 8 August 1917. After a lengthy action and many casualties Dunraven eventually sank and the submarine escaped. It was after this action that Owens was awarded the D.S.M. Sold with comprehensive research and an original post card photograph of Dunraven.