Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: William M. Tate, Master of the S.S. Sheaf Field who was commended in the London Gazette for an action against an enemy submarine, 27 February 1918

British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals (William M. Tate) extremely fine (2) £120-160

Commendation London Gazette 26 April 1918.

William Montgomery Tate was born in Blyth in 1882. In February 1918 he was Master of the S.S. Sheaf Field, on government service carrying 2,200 tons of coal from Barry to Stornaway. At 08.40 am. on 27 February 1918, about 12 miles E.S.E. of South Rock Lightship (E. of Cloughey, N. Ireland), the ship came under attack from an enemy submarine. Two torpedoes were fired towards the ship, one torpedo passed across the bow and the other passed under the vessel without exploding. The submarine then surfaced and was engaged by the crew of the Sheaf Field, firing their deck gun. After firing nine rounds the gun jammed. The submarine was seen to be damaged and having difficulty manoeuvring. Laying broadside on, she made a tempting target, but Tate calculated that since he had no wireless, had a jammed gun and the submarine had a working deck gun, he decided it would be prudent to leave the area unscathed. For his actions Tate was mentioned in the London Gazette as having received an expression of commendation for his services.

With copied report of the action and other research.