Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Great War Q Ships D.S.M. awarded to Stoker A. Hopkins, Royal Naval Reserve, a crew member of Gordon Campbell’s “Q. 5” during the V.C. action fought against the “U-83” off the west coast of Ireland on 17 February 1917, and afterwards a participant in the V.C. ballot held aboard Campbell’s next command, the “Pargust”, in June 1917, following another successful action against the “UC-29”

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (S. 8346 A. Hopkins, Sto., R.N.R., Off W. Coast Ireland, 17 Feb. 1917) nearly extremely fine £800-1000

D.S.M. London Gazette 23 March 1917.

Aaron Hopkins was one of nine men awarded the D.S.M. following the Q. 5’s famous clash with the U-83 off the west coast of Ireland in February 1917. His captain, Gordon Campbell, was awarded the Victoria Cross, while two D.S.Os and three D.S.Cs went to the remainder of the ship’s officers:

On 17 February 1917, H.M.S. Q. 5, under the command of Commander Campbell, D.S.O., R.N., was struck by a torpedo abreast of No. 3 hold. Action stations were sounded and the ‘panic party’ abandoned ship. The Engineer Officer reported that the engine-room was flooding, and was ordered to remain at his post as long as possible, which he and his staff, several of whom were severely wounded, most gallantly did. The submarine was observed on the starboard quarter 200 yards distant, watching the proceedings through its periscope. It ran past the ship on the starboard side so closely that the whole hull was visible beneath the surface, finally emerging about 300 yards on the port bow. The enemy next came down the port side of the ship, and fire was withheld until all guns could bear at point-blank range. The first shot beheaded the Captain of the submarine as he was climbing out of the conning tower, and the submarine finally sank with conning tower open and crew pouring out. One Officer and one man were rescued on the surface and taken prisoner, after which the boats were recalled and all hands proceeded to do their utmost to keep the ship afloat. A wireless signal for assistance had been sent out when (but not until) the fate of the submarine was assured, and a destroyer and sloop arrived a couple of hours later and took Q. 5 in tow. She was finally beached in safety the following evening. The action may be regarded as the supreme test of naval discipline. The Chief Engineer and engine-room watch remained at their posts to keep the dynamo working until driven out by the water, then remained concealed on top of the cylinders. The guns’ crew had to remain concealed in their gun-houses for nearly half an hour, while the ship slowly sank lower in the water.

Hopkins accompanied Campbell to his next command, the Pargust, and was aboard her on 7 June 1917 in another classic Q Ship action with the UC-29:

‘On 25 May 1917, UC-29, under Kapitain Rosenow, left Brunsbuttel and, after calling at Heligoland, proceeded to Dingle Bay, off the south-west coast of Ireland. In that area she laid most of her 18 mines. In fact for about a fortnight the UC-29 operated off the south-west Irish coast and Rosenow sank several sailing ships, although two or three of his torpedoes were expended in unsuccesful strikes against a British destroyer and an Italian barque. At 8.00 a.m. on 7 June 1917, again off the Irish coast, Rosenow fired his last torpedo at a small collier, registering a hit amidships and tearing a hole in her waterline. Rosenow was, however, completely unaware of the fact that his victim was the Q Ship Pargust. Commander Gordon Campbell, her captain, who had already accounted for the U-68 and U-83 during previous commands, readied himself for a hat trick. Sending away his ‘panic party’ in three boats, he sighted the U-29’s periscope about 400 yards off the port beam. His men, concealed on the Q Ship’s decks, waited until the enemy submarine approached nearer, to a position about 50 yards off Pargust’s starboard quarter, where she surfaced. Campbell gave the order to open fire, the first round hitting the UC-29 at the base of her conning tower, killing Rosenow and destroying her periscope. About 40 more 4-inch shells, many of them registering direct hits, fell on or around the enemy submarine, until at length it listed to port, with oil pouring out of its damaged hull. Then enemy crew members were seen to rush on deck, and hold up their arms in surrender, which development prompted Campbell to order the cease fire. But after a further ten minutes, it was apparent that those remaining below were still intent on escape, and the Pargust re-engaged her foe until, at 8.40 a.m., there was a large explosion and the UC-29 heeled over and slid stern first under the waves. Only two survivors were picked up, a Lieutenant and a Petty Officer. For her own part, the Pargust was barely afloat, but assistance quickly arrived on the scene and she was towed back to port at Queenstown. Campbell received a Bar to his D.S.O., while Lieutenant R.N. Stuart, D.S.C. and Able Seaman W. Williams were both awarded balloted V.Cs.

Full and vivid accounts of these two actions may be found in Campbell’s My Mystery Ships.