Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas (Part I)

The unusual Great War posthumous D.S.M. group of four awarded to Stoker Petty Officer William Punt, Royal Navy, who suffered severe burns when H.M.S. Laertes was hit by enemy shellfire on 25 April 1916, and died of septicaemia eleven days later

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (302295 W. Punt, Sto. P.O. H.M.S. Laertes 25 Apl. 1916.); 1914-15 Star (302295, W. Punt, S.P.O., R.N.), British War and Victory Medals (302295 W. Punt. S.P.O. R.N.) mounted for display, good very fine (4) £1,200-£1,600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 22 June 1916:

‘The following awards have also been approved: Stoker Petty Officer William Punt, O.N. 302295 (since died of wounds).’

The original recommendation states:

‘For his services in action on board H.M.S. Laertes. When one of the boilers was put out of action by a German shell, Punt remained at his post and closed the stop valves of the boiler being very severely scalded in doing so,’

William Punt was born at Southminster, Kent on 18 June 1883 and entered the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class in December 1902.

A Stoker Officer in the destroyer H.M.S. Laertes on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he quickly saw action at the battle of Heligoland Bight at the end of the month, when she was severely damaged by four shells. The most serious hit was in the boiler room, which cut off all steam supplies and left the ship motionless. Her consort Lapwing went to her aid under heavy fire, but it was the timely arrival of Lion that saved the day.

Punt was still serving in Laertes at the time of her next major action, namely her intervention during the German bombardment of Yarmouth and Lowestoft on 25 April 1916. On that occasion, she again came under heavy fire and again took a serious hit in her boiler room, this time with fatal consequences for Punt, who suffered terrible burns in closing the boiler stop valves. A fellow stoker, Ernest Clarke, likewise suffered fatal burns, but their gallant actions were credited with saving the ship. Both men were awarded posthumous D.S.Ms.

The son of Thomas and Elizabeth Punt of Gillingham, Kent, William died of septicaemia at the naval establishment at Shotley on 6 May 1916, and was buried in Chatham (Maidstone Road) Cemetery.

Sold with copied record of service.