The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 2)

Four: 1914-15 Star Trio (299199 T. D. Polkinghorne, S.P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., Admiral’s bust (299199 T. D. Polkinghorne, Sto. P.O. H.M.S. Q XI) good very fine and rare (4)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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This is the only known Long Service & Good Conduct medal named to a ‘Q’ Ship.

‘Another useful addition to the sailing fleet was the 174 ton sailing barquetine GAELIC built of iron at Amlwch, Anglesey in 1898. She had a length of 127 feet, a breadth of 24 feet and a depth of nearly 11 feet. The GAELIC had been selected for conversion in November 1916 by Vice Admiral Charles H. Dare, in Command of Milford Haven, who armed her with guns taken out of the sailing trawlers STRUMBLE (M135) and KERNES (M105), two ‘Q’ ships that had proved unsatisfactory. This armament consisted of two 8 hundredweight 12-pounder guns and to these were added two 12 hundredweight 12-pounders and two Maxims. As Q.22, GAELIC was to have an eventful career. GAELIC was also known as GOBO and BRIG XI and she continued to serve until 5 March 1919 when she was returned to her owners W. Thomas & Sons. Throughout the years 1917 and 1918 the Q.22 roamed far and wide in her pursuit of enemy submarines and although several times in action with enemy submarines she was only credited with possibly damaging one submarine. Her very existence along with other ‘Q’ ships was to make the life of the enemy submarine more difficult and by causing doubt, caution and confusion they succeeded in their task.’ (Ref ‘Q-Ships’ by Carson Ritchie page 98).