Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas

The Dardanelles D.S.M. group of four awarded to Able Seaman William Longworth, Royal Navy, a volunteer in Majestic’s daring Picket Boat torpedo attack to destroy the stricken British submarine E-15

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (205543 W. Longworth, A.B. H.M.S. Majestic); 1914-15 Star (205543 W. Lomgworth.D.S.M., A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (205543 W. Longworth. A.B. R.N.) mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (4) £2,000-£2,400

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 16 August 1915: ‘For services in picket boats of H.M.S. Majestic and Triumph, 18th April 1915.’

On the morning of 7 April 1915, Lieutenant-Commander T. S. Brodie attempted the passage of the Dardanelles in the British submarine H.M.S. E-15. By 6.00 a.m., the submarine was unfortunately stranded in shoal water about seven miles inside the Straits. Brodie was killed on the bridge and the crew taken prisoner. By noon, the British submarine B-6 attempted to torpedo the stranded E-15, but was unsuccessful. That night, the two destroyers, Scorpion and Grampus, entered the Straits and reached a position with half a mile of the E-15, but were driven off.

On the morning of 18 April, another attempt was made to destroy this vessel as the submarine B-11 reached a close position, but due to fog, was unable to torpedo the E-15. That afternoon, the battleships Majestic and Triumph attempted a long range shelling but were unable to hit the submarine. Finally, that night, the last and most dangerous attempt was made by two picket boats fitted with torpedoes from Majestic and Triumph. Lieutenant C. H. Godwin was in command of Majestic’s picket boat, manned by a volunteer crew of ten, who were all dressed in dark clothes with blackened faces, while Triumph’s picket boat was commanded by Lieutenant-Commander E. G. Robinson, supported by Lieutenant A. C. Brooke-Webb and Midshipman J. B. Woolley, with a similar volunteer crew of ten.

The two small boats entered the Straits that night, each carrying two 14-inch outrigger torpedoes. They succeeded in reaching a point about one mile from the stricken E-15 when they were illuminated by searchlights from the Turkish batteries, and brought under an extremely heavy fire. They sped to the attack at full speed and, just as Lieutenant Goodwin launched his first torpedo, Majestic’s boat was hit by a heavy calibre shell which carried away part of the boat’s stern and she instantly began to fill. The first torpedo missed the target but Lieutenant Goodwin still had another torpedo in its slings, and he was determined to use it. Putting on steam, he again approached the submarine, and, taking careful aim, was rewarded after a few seconds by a great explosion which occurred well under water, just forward of her conning-tower. After such an attack no submarine would have any remaining value save as waste metal.

In the meantime, the Triumph’s boat had observed the misfortune of her consort and hurriedly steamed up alongside. All the men of the damaged craft were taken aboard, including one, the only casualty, who had been mortally wounded. The forts and batteries ashore had redoubled their efforts when the torpedo struck home, but not another shot found its intended billet, and when the Triumph, now doubly loaded, set off down stream, the enemy gunners, for some reason best known to themselves, concentrated their fire on the drifting and tenantless wreck of the Majestic’s boat.

Vice Admiral de Robeck congratulated those concerned in a general signal, and the Admiralty telegraphed Lieutenant-Commander Robinson's promotion to Commander for his services. The D.S.O. was awarded to Lieutenant Godwin, and the D.S.C. to Lieutenant Brooke-Webb and Midshipman Woolley, while the boats' crews all received the D.S.M. Commander Robinson had already performed in Gallipoli a deed of gallantry for which he was later awarded the Victoria Cross.

William Longworth was born at Farnworth, Lancashire, on 2 June 1883, and joined the Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 8 August 1899. He was rated Able Seaman in December 1902 and became a torpedo specialist with numerous postings to Defiance, the Navy’s torpedo school ship. He held the sub rating of Leading Torpedoman from February 1909 and was discharged to Shore on 2 June 1913, having completed 12 years continuous service, he joined the R.F.R. Devonport the following day. Recalled for service on 2 August 1914, he served aboard H.M.S. Majestic until 26 May 1915, and thereafter in various ships and shore bases for the remainder of the war and until demobilised on 7 June 1921.