Medals from the Collection of the late Eric Smith

A Great War ‘Submarine Service’ D.S.M. group of four awarded to Warrant Engineer E. H. Hodgers, Royal Navy, for service aboard the K.7

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (272051 E. H. Hodgers, E.R.A. 2 Cl., Submarine Service 1917); 1914-15 Star (272057 E. H. Hodges, E.R.A. 2, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Art. Eng. E. H. Hodges, R.N.) note different spelling of surname, good very fine (4) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of the late Eric Smith.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 2 November 1917. ‘... for services in submarines in enemy waters’.

Ernest Henry Hodgers was born in Plymouth on 15 June 1881. A Coppersmith by occupation, he entered the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class at Vivid II on 26 October 1905. He was confirmed in his rank when on Blake in October 1906 and advanced to E.R.A. 3 in December 1908 when on Flora, and E.R.A. 2 in December 1912 when at Cormorant (Gibraltar). By the onset of the Great War he had entered the submarine service and in March 1917 he commenced service with the 12th Submarine Flotilla Leader Fearless and the submarine K.7. As such, he took part in the infamous and tragic ‘Battle of May Island’, 31 January/1 February 1918, the K.7 colliding with the already stricken K.4, which sank with all hands. The ‘battle’ also resulted in the loss of K.17 which was accidentally sunk in collision with the Fearless. He remained with Fearless and K.7 until September 1918. For his wartime service on the K.7 during 1917, he was awarded the D.S.M. In October 1918 he was advanced to Acting Artificer Engineer and was confirmed in that rank in October the following year. His rank was altered to Warrant Engineer in January 1920. Hodgers was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 19 June 1920. With copied service papers.