Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (J. 102072 E. J. Thomas, A.B., H.M.S. Foresight), good very fine £180-220

Eric James Thomas was mentioned in despatches for his services in H.M.S. Widgeon at Wanhsien on the Yangtze River ‘on 5 September 1926, and connected events’ (London Gazette 6 May 1927 refers), a rare distinction in respect of the Civil War in China.

The “Wanhsien Incident” commenced when the steamer Wanliu, owned by Messrs. Butterfield & Wire, got into difficulties with General Yang Sen's soldiers at Yunyang. The Chinese claimed that two sampans were capsized by the wash of the Wanliu, several soldiers being drowned and many thousands of dollars which were on board being lost. The Captain of the Wanliu denied this, and stated that his ship was boarded by armed soldiers, and that his vessel was fired on whilst endeavouring to escape. As a reprisal General Yan Sen (one of Wu Pei Fu’s supporters), seized the two Butterfield ships Wanhsien and Wanting at the port of Wanhsien, placing 300 soldiers aboard the vessels, and locking the officers in their cabins.

The Royal Navy gunboats Cockchafer and Widgeon, with the steamer Kiawo, the latter owned by Messrs. Matheson & Co., but taken over by the Royal Navy, manned by four Naval officers and 60 men, attempted to rescue the seized ships. They came, however, under very heavy fire from field guns, machine-guns, and rifles, and although they replied to the fire vigorously, they were compelled to withdraw in the face of the superior odds. The Commander of Cockchafer and five men were wounded, but the crew of the Kiawo, which attempted a boarding, suffered very heavily. Three officers and four men were killed, one officer and eight men were wounded.

The foreign officers on the captured steamers were rescued, with the exception of Mr. Johnson, Chief Engineer of the Wanting, who was drowned whilst attempting to swim with his Chief Officer to a French gunboat. Awards for the action at Wanhsien comprised two D.S.C’s, two C.G.M’s, four D.S.M’s and 28 “mentions”; sold with further details.