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

The superb ‘Dunraven’ Q-Ship D.S.M. group of five awarded to Wireman Stanley Woodison, Royal Navy, a Canadian who was three times decorated for gallantry, was in a ballot for the award of the Victoria Cross, and took part in all of Captain Gordon Campbell’s famous Q-Ship actions

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (M.15547. S. Woodison, Wiren. Atlantic Ocean. 8 Aug. 1917); 1914-15 Star (M.15547, S. Woodison, Ar. Cr., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (M.15547 S. Woodison. Wmn. 1 R.N.); France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre 1914 1917, with bronze palm, mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (5) £3,000-£4,000

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 2 November 1917: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’ The recommendation states: ‘Action of H.M.S. Dunraven with German submarine UC71 on 8 August 1917. Has served in all five actions of H.M.S. Dunraven with Captain Campbell.’

The Victoria Cross awarded to Lieutenant C. G. Bonner and Petty Officer Ernest Pitcher for this action.

M.I.D. London Gazette 23 March 1917. Action of H.M.S. Q.5 on 17 February 1917, when the U-83 was sunk.

French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 19 December 1917.

Stanley Woodison was born on 22 August 1887 at Windsor, Ontario, Canada. An electrician (wireman) by trade, he volunteered for the Royal Navy on 6 October 1915, for the duration of the hostilities, and served throughout the war in ‘Q’ ships under Captain Gordon Campbell. In the space of less than two years he would witness the destruction of three U-boats in actions which would be rewarded with no less than 5 V.C.s, 7 D.S.O.s, 13 D.S.C.s, 7 C.G.M.s, 45 D.S.M.s, and numerous M.I.D.s.

Woodison joined Loderer (later Farnborough and Q.5) on 5 November 1915. On 22 March 1916, Farnborough enjoyed her first success with the sinking of the U-68, bringing promotion to Commander for Campbell, and winning him the first of his three D.S.O.s. With her name changed to H.M.S. Q.5, she next sank the U-83 on 17 February 1917, but was herself badly damaged by torpedoes and had to be beached. Campbell was awarded the Victoria Cross for this action, and many crew members received decorations or mentions, including Woodison.

Campbell’s next ship was the Pargust, which Woodison joined on 8 May 1917, and took part in the sinking of the UC.29 on 7 June 1917. Woodison’s service record is annotated: ‘Noted for War Services: Action with Enemy Submarine 7 June 1917,’ and also ‘Participated in ballot for award of the V.C. to one of the Ship’s Coy. of H.M.S. Pargust, June 1917.’ Clearly, he was not the man chosen in the ballot, this honour instead going to Seaman William Williams, whilst the officers voted Lieutenant R. N. Stuart, D.S.O., for the ultimate award. Pargust had been badly damaged in the action and repairs were going to take a long time to effect. Campbell therefore requested a new ship, which he got in the name of H.M.S. Dunraven.

The action of Dunraven with the UC.71 on 8 August 1917 is one of the most famous Q-Ship actions of the war. It was a heroic three-hour gun and torpedo action in which the Dunraven was repeatedly hit by shells, refusing to return fire until the submarine came within range. With the poop heavily on fire as the submarine slowly approached Dunraven, Campbell had to make an agonising decision not to evacuate the gun’s crew, thereby exposing their intentions to the enemy, in the full knowledge that the magazine would certainly explode. As the submarine passed Dunraven’s stern, a matter of seconds before it would be in range of the guns, the inevitable happened. A terrific explosion occurred, the stern of the ship was blown out, and the four-inch gun and crew were blown into the air. The gun’s crew were all wounded but luckily none were killed, although one man later did later succumb to his wounds. The enemy was very wary and, having scored a hit with a torpedo, broke off the action when a torpedo was fired at her by the Dunraven. Despite being taken in tow and valiant action by the crew to save their ship, Dunraven sank at 0130 on 9 August 1917, the officers and crew being taken off by H.M.S. Christopher. This was to be Captain Campbell's last Q-Ship action; the Admiralty retired him to a shore posting at Holyhead. As for his crew, Campbell himself said of them ‘Not a man failed, not a man could have done more.’ Dunraven’s action brought numerous awards including Victoria Crosses for Lieutenant C. G. Bonner and Petty Officer Ernest Pitcher, and the D.S.M. for Stanley Woodison.

Sold with an original Canadian news cutting with portrait and details of war service, together with copied record of service and action reports.