Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘St George’s Day Raid’ posthumous M.I.D. pair to Lieutenant C. T. Paynter, Royal Navy, H.M.S. North Star, who was killed by a shell exploding on the forecastle shortly before his ship sank at Zeebrugge on 23 April 1918

1914-15 Star (S. Lt. C. T. Paynter. R.N.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. C. T. Paynter. R.N.) nearly extremely fine (2) £240-£280

M.I.D. London Gazette 23 July 1918:

‘Showed great bravery under heavy fire in “North Star”.
When “North Star” was disabled, he took charge of the operations on the forecastle for getting in of “Phoebe”. Towing wires were placed and passed across very quickly under his direction, but the tow unfortunately parted. Lt. Paynter was shortly afterwards killed by a shell exploding on the forecastle.’

Charles Theodore Paynter was born at Spondon, Derbyshire, on 1 November 1895, and went to Springfield when his father became Rector there in 1897. His education included a spell at Chelmsford’s Grammar School. He joined the Royal Navy in September 1908 and remained with the service until his death April 1918 at Zeebrugge, when his ship was struck by an exploding shell fired by shore batteries.

The Essex County Chronicle published the following report of his death:
‘Lt. Charles Theodore Paynter, R.N., third son of the Rev. Francis S. Paynter, R.D., rector of Springfield, and Mrs. Paynter, was killed by a shell off the coast of Belgium in the recent naval operations. The deceased officer, who was 22 years of age, was educated at St. Michael’s School, Westgate, and passed from there into Osborne in 1908, proceeding to Dartmouth College in 1910. In 1913 he went on a cruise to the West Indies in H.M.S. Cornwall, and was subsequently gazetted midshipman on board H.M.S. Conqueror, a super Dreadnought, Obtaining the rank of Acting-Sub.-Lieut. in 1915, the young officer was gazetted to H.M.S. Vigilant, on board which, he went through the battle of Jutland in 1916. His last ship was the North Star, upon which he became full Lieut., last year, and was No. 1. Although full details are yet to hand, enough is already reported to show that Lt. Paynter acted with great courage and gallantry in the operations undertaken off the coast of Belgium on the morning of the 23rd last. He was personally concerning in the sinking of a German electronically controlled ship off the coast of Belgium, and his destroyer was one which went into the harbour behind the Mole at Zeebrugge, and was blown up. Before this occurred he was able to let off a torpedo which struck the Mole, causing a great deal of damage, Lt. Paynter was killed while trying to save the life of someone in the water and exposing himself to the danger.’
A fellow officer wrote:
‘He was very cool and showed a fine example to his men, showing complete disregard of danger, although he was in a very exposed position. The men whom we rescued spoke in the highest praise of how your son carried on till the last minute. The Service has lost a very valuable officer.’