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

Four: Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (M.3057 J. W. Rogers, E.R.A. 3Cl. S/M “L.12” Skagerrak 16 Oct. 1918); 1914-15 Star Trio (M.3057 J. W. Rogers, E.R.A. 3, R.N.) light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (4)

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

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D.S.M. London Gazette 29 November 1918 ‘The following awards have been approved for services in action with enemy submarines.’

The British submarine L.12, (Lieutenant Commander P. E. Phillips, R.N.) was on patrol in the Skaggerak on 16 October 1918 when an enemy submarine was sighted through her periscope. The following extract is taken from the Action Report:

1613 Sighted what looked like the conning tower of a submarine bearing 30° on starboard bow. The light was beginning to fail and I could make out no course. Continued same course at full speed.

1622 Slow speed. Observed on same bearing conning tower of a submarine about 11/2 miles off, also bow wave, steering practically straight for us. Fixed her course at 20°, altered to starboard and proceeded full speed.

1628 Slow speed. Picked up submarine on my port quarter instead of on my starboard beam as I expected. I was about on her starboard beam and she appeared to have altered course about 90° to starboard. Turned to port under full helm and starboard motor. Steadied on 30°.

1632 Fired four 21” bow torpedoes with 20° of deflection and the following spread: No. 3, straight; No. 4 (angled 3° left) together, 10 secs. interval. No. 2 straight; No. 1 (angled 2° right) together. I judged her range about 1,500 yards, and speed 12 knots; light getting very bad for periscope but I thought I was anything from on her beam to 2 pts abaft.

1 minute 25 seconds after first torpedoes were fired a loud explosion was heard. I was at 60 feet at the time as the forward hydroplanes had jammed at high speed and were unreliable and the tank had to be flooded to keep her down after firing. 30 seconds after the explosion no submarine was visible through the periscope and on coming to the surface immediately I saw a large quantity of oil 300 yards ahead. On arriving at the spot the surface of the water for a radius of about 200 yards was covered in oil and a very strong smell of paraffin was present. I also saw several small pieces of wood and a black shape like half a man’s body; this I tried to pick up but after two or three ineffectual attempts I lost sight of it in the darkness. I also saw what looked like a black cap and a piece of rubber hosing.

As there was a ship apparently closing us from the South I left the spot in a Northerly direction. Owing to the high speed at which it was necessary to carry out the attack and the failing light I could not pick up any details about the boat, but I am sure she was a U.110 class.

From German records recovered after the war the submarine was identified as being the UB.90 Commanded by Ober Lieutenant Von Mayr. She was a 510 ton boat and was new having been completed early in 1918 and had no sinkings to her credit.