Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War minesweeping operations D.S.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant J. Trenance, Royal Naval Reserve

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1917, the reverse privately engraved, ‘Lt. Jas. Trenance, R.N.R., 1918’; 1914-15 Star (S. Lt., R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut., R.N.R.), generally good very fine (4) £800-1000

D.S.C. London Gazette 17 April 1918:

‘In recognition of services in minesweeping operations between 1 April and 31 December 1917.’

James Trenance served on minesweeping duties with the Dover Patrol for the duration of the Great War, his first known appointment being as a newly commissioned Sub. Lieutenant, R.N.R., aboard H.M.S. Cambridge, a paddle minesweeper, with effect from October 1915. Advanced to Lieutenant in January 1916, he gained his first command, another paddle minesweeper, the Snowdon, in the same year, and served in a similar capacity in the Goodwood from September 1916 until July 1918, this latter appointment resulting in the award of his D.S.C.

On 1 January 1917, the S.S. Sussex, a large cargo vessel, struck a mine near West Dyck Bank. The paddle minesweepers immediately proceeded to the assistance of the stricken vessel and found that she had come into contact with net-mines which had been laid by our own drifters to destroy enemy submarines. The Montrose and Nepaulin crossed over the mine-nets safely, but the Goodwood, with Trenance in command, also struck a mine. The Redcar went to her assistance and managed to tow her into Dunkirk, in a sinking condition, placing her in the hands of salvage tugs, who got her to a dry-dock.

Trenance’s final wartime command was the Cheltenham, a sister ship to the Goodwood, which he served aboard from July 1918; verification for his “mention” still required.