Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War Minesweeping D.S.M. awarded to 2nd Hand E. Dollin, Royal Naval Reserve

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (DA15453 E. Dollin, R.N.R. “Manx King” English Channel, 12 Dec. 1917) extremely fine £450-550

D.S.M. London Gazette 6 April 1918. 2nd Hand (now Skipper), R.N.R.

‘One of the most outstanding cases where a mine was rendered safe, and a ship and her crew saved by the gallantry of two men, occured on December 12, 1917, off the Nab, at the east end of the Isle of Wight. ... The sweep was carried out without incident. No more mines were found, and shortly after noon the order was given to slip the sweep-wires and haul them in. While this was being done Mr Blackmore was amazed to see a mine come up in the kite of the Manx King. Because of its resemblance to the rounded end of the plunger kite, it was not noticed until it was hove up ... there was imminent danger of an explosion. The mine, swinging to and fro with the movement, had one of its horns within a few inches of the gunwale. ... Mr Blackmore’s first anxiety was for the safety of his crew. First, he ordered steam to be shut off. Then he told his men to abandone ship by jumping overboard. This they did, to be picked up by boats from other trawlers close by. But Blackmore was not leaving the ship himself. As he says: “I retained only the second hand on board with me, a fine type of trawler-man called Edward Dollin, of Fleetwood. The mine could’nt be slipped without risking explosion, so in its upside-down position we first lashed it as securely as we could, and then removed the horns.” As the safety-plug was against the ship’s side it was impossible to get at the base of the mine and remove the detonator, so having removed the horns, with Blackmore standing on the mine to do so, they lashed it again so that it could not possibly move, and re-embarked the crew. “We were exceedingly lucky to be able to do the job without accident. Even then the crew did’nt feel too happy.” ... The bravery of Edward Dollin, who remained on board to help his commanding officer, was officially recognised by the award of the Distinguished Service Medal and promotion to Skipper R.N.R.’ (Extract from Tales of Minesweeping). Sold with copied research including a copied photograph of the mine lashed to the ship.

(Commander G. E. Blackmore’s O.B.E., D.S.C. group was sold at D.N.W. in the sale of 20 September 2002, lot 1467.)