Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte

The M.V.O. group of nine awarded to Admiral Sir William Goodenough, Royal Navy, who, having witnessed active service in the Boxer Rebellion and assisted, as captain of the Duncan, in the Messina earhquake relief operations of 1908, was Commodore of Light Cruiser Squadrons at Heligoland Bight, Dogger Bank and Jutland - in the latter action, his command, the Southampton, was heavily engaged, expending over 150 of her 6-inch shells and taking casualties of 35 killed and 41 wounded: he was appointed G.C.B. on his retirement in 1930

The Royal Victorian Order, M.V.O., Member’s 4th Class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse officially numbered ‘824’; China 1900, no clasp (Lieut. W. E. Goodenough, R.N., H.M.S. Hermione); 1914-15 Star (Commre. 2 Cl. W. E. Goddenough, M.V.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medal, M.I.D. oak leaf (R. Adml. W. E. Goodenough); Coronation 1911; Jubilee 1935; French Croix de Guerre 1914-1917, with bronze palm; Italian Messina Earthquake 1908 Merit Medal, edge bruising to earlier awards, generally very fine or better (9) £2500-3000

M.V.O. London Gazette 4 February 1912.

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte.

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William Edmund Goodenough was born in Portsmouth in June 1867 and entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet in Britannia in December 1881. Appointed a Midshipman in October of the following year, he was advanced to Lieutenant in the royal yacht Victoria & Albert in August 1888 and to Commander in June 1900, the same year in which he served off China in the Hermione.

In 1908, in the rank of Captain, he commanded the cruiser Duncan during the Messina earthquake relief operations, and was created a Commander of the Italian Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, in addition to receiving the Silver Merit Medal. And for his services as Captain of the detached squadron which escorted the Medina to India for the Durbar in 1911, was awarded the M.V.O., 4th class.

Having then been appointed Commodore of the First Light Cruiser Squadron in July 1913, he commanded our light cruisers at the engagement in Heligoland Bight on 28 August 1914, which action resulted in the destruction of three German cruisers and several destroyers. Similarly employed at Dogger Bank on 24 January 1915, he won a “mention” (London Gazette 3 March 1915 refers), was created a C.B. in the following year (London Gazette 3 June 1916 refers), and gained advancement to Rear-Admiral. And it was in this latter rank, in the cruiser Southampton, as Commodore of the Second Cruiser Squadron, that he was present at Jutland.

At a little after 1630 hours on 31 May, Goodenough signalled Beatty, “Have sighted enemy battle fleet bearing S.E., course N.”, and was quickly in action, his command being subjected to 15 salvoes from the Kaiser at around 2000 yards range, in addition to taking an 11-inch hit from the Nassau. About 1700 hours, Goodenough chose to ignore Beatty’s signal to retire, keen as he was to discover the true composition of the enemy fleet, and so his running duel extended to about an hour’s duration, in which period one of his officers estimated that 50 or 60 shells fell within 100 yards of Southampton. In return, alongside the guns of the Dublin, she scored four hits on the Konig.