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

The Great War destroyer captain’s D.S.O. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Commander F. A. Warner, Royal Navy, who was killed when his command H.M.S. Torrent was mined in the North Sea

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar; 1914-15 Star (Lt. Commr. F. A. Warner, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt./ Commr. F. A. Warner. R.N.) mounted for display (4) £1,800-£2,200

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.O. London Gazette 23 May 1917: ‘In recognition of services in the Destroyer Patrol Flotillas, Armed Boarding Steamers, etc., during the period ended 30 September 1916.’

Frederick Archibald Warner was born in Couva, Trinidad on 31 December 1884, and entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in Britannia in May 1900. Advanced to Sub. Lieutenant in February 1905 and to Lieutenant in June 1907, he received his first command, Torpedo Boat 25, in August 1911.

His subsequent wartime appointments comprised a succession of destroyer commands, including the Coquette from August 1914 until February 1916, and the Myngs from March 1916 until February 1917. And it was for his services in the latter ship that he was awarded the D.S.O. ‘for special good work in patrols and minesweeping operations with the Nore Flotilla.’ Myngs was also present in the action fought against German battle cruisers returning from their bombardment of Yarmouth and Lowestoft on 25 April 1916.

Warner, who had been promoted to Lieutenant-Commander, next took command of the Torrent and was back in action on 6 June 1917, when she contributed to the destruction of the enemy destroyer S. 20 off the Belgian coast. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 14 September 1917, refers).

Tragically, however, his courageous captaincy was curtailed on 23 December 1917, when Torrent was mined off the Maas light vessel with the loss of all but two of her crew. In what proved to be a disastrous patrol for the 10th Destroyer Flotilla, her consorts Surprise and Tornado suffered a similar fate.

Warner has no known grave and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Sold with some copied research.