66
A Great War Q-ship operations D.S.M. awarded to Engine-Room Artificer 1st Class J. C....
Your max bid
GBP
Place Bid
Auctioneer's estimate
700 GBP - 900 GBP
Additional fees apply
34.74% Inc.VAT/sales tax
Add to watch list
Watching
(1 watching)
Please confirm your bid
Bids do not include VAT, buyer’s premium or delivery.
By confirming your bid, you agree that you have read and accepted the-saleroom.com and the auctioneer's terms and conditions. Confirming your bid is a legally binding obligation to purchase and pay for the lot should your bid be successful.
Confirm bid removal
Your bid is off increment
Choose one of the quick bid options below:
Bids do not include VAT, buyer’s premium or delivery.
By confirming your bid, you agree that you have read and accepted the-saleroom.com and the auctioneer's terms and conditions. Confirming your bid is a legally binding obligation to purchase and pay for the lot should your bid be successful.
Description
A Great War Q-ship operations D.S.M. awarded to Engine-Room Artificer 1st Class J. C. Esdon, Royal Naval Reserve, who was decorated for his gallant deeds in the ‘splendid Penshurst’ in her action with an enemy submarine on 19 August 1917; having then survived the famous Q-ship’s loss in December 1917, he was among those killed when the sloop Anchusa was torpedoed off Ireland in July 1918
Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (E.A.1824. J. C. Edson, E.R.A. 1Cl. R.N.R. Atlantic Ocean. 19 Aug. 1917.) good very fine £700-£900
---
Importation Duty
This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK
---
---
Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2000.
D.S.M. London Gazette 2 November 1917: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’
The original recommendation for Penshurst’s attack on a German submarine on 19 August 1917 states:
‘This rating particularly rendered conspicuous service in keeping the engines going, connecting up steering gear to the main steering engine, pumping out water, repairing the pumps when they became choked and broke down, being continuously on watch from the time the torpedo struck until the ship arrived in port.’
John Charles Esdon was born in Liverpool on 16 October 1891, and joined the Royal Naval Reserve as an Engine Room Artificer in May 1915. Having then served in the mine-sweeping sloop Larkspur until July 1917, he volunteered for decoy ships and joined the Penshurst (Q. 7).
Just three weeks later, on 19 August 1917, under the command of Lieutenant Cedric Naylor, D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N.R, he was present in her classic decoy ship action with the UC-72, which action led to the award of his D.S.M.
Badly damaged by a torpedo strike below her bridge, and with her hidden guns prematurely exposed, the Penshurst nonetheless pretended to ‘run away’ when the enemy submarine surfaced. She then opened fire with her 3-pounder gun in an attempt to entice the submarine closer before opening up with her heavier guns. Penshurst also used her 12-pounder with good effect and hit UC-72 four times, causing her to break off the action and dive. Penshurst, in her damaged state, was unable to follow up with depth charges and so set course for Plymouth and much needed repairs.
Esdon was subsequently present on the occasion of Penshurst’s loss in the Irish Sea on 24 December 1917, when she was torpedoed by the U-110. Owing to the Q-ship’s heavy list, her guns were limited in their capability to return fire, but she managed to get in two hits before slipping beneath the waves. Remarkably, in the circumstances, all but two of the ‘Splendid Penshurst’s’ crew were rescued.
Advanced to Chief Engine Room Artificer, Esdon next joined the sloop Anchusa, and he was likewise employed at the time of her loss to the U-54 off Ireland on 14 July 1918. On passage to Loch Swilly, she was struck by two torpedoes on her starboard side, broke up and sank rapidly, going down in just two minutes. Twelve survivors were picked up the following morning but he was not among them.
The son of Catherine Esdon, of Cato Street, Southwick, Sunderland, and the late John Esdon, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (E.A.1824. J. C. Edson, E.R.A. 1Cl. R.N.R. Atlantic Ocean. 19 Aug. 1917.) good very fine £700-£900
---
Importation Duty
This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK
---
---
Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2000.
D.S.M. London Gazette 2 November 1917: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’
The original recommendation for Penshurst’s attack on a German submarine on 19 August 1917 states:
‘This rating particularly rendered conspicuous service in keeping the engines going, connecting up steering gear to the main steering engine, pumping out water, repairing the pumps when they became choked and broke down, being continuously on watch from the time the torpedo struck until the ship arrived in port.’
John Charles Esdon was born in Liverpool on 16 October 1891, and joined the Royal Naval Reserve as an Engine Room Artificer in May 1915. Having then served in the mine-sweeping sloop Larkspur until July 1917, he volunteered for decoy ships and joined the Penshurst (Q. 7).
Just three weeks later, on 19 August 1917, under the command of Lieutenant Cedric Naylor, D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N.R, he was present in her classic decoy ship action with the UC-72, which action led to the award of his D.S.M.
Badly damaged by a torpedo strike below her bridge, and with her hidden guns prematurely exposed, the Penshurst nonetheless pretended to ‘run away’ when the enemy submarine surfaced. She then opened fire with her 3-pounder gun in an attempt to entice the submarine closer before opening up with her heavier guns. Penshurst also used her 12-pounder with good effect and hit UC-72 four times, causing her to break off the action and dive. Penshurst, in her damaged state, was unable to follow up with depth charges and so set course for Plymouth and much needed repairs.
Esdon was subsequently present on the occasion of Penshurst’s loss in the Irish Sea on 24 December 1917, when she was torpedoed by the U-110. Owing to the Q-ship’s heavy list, her guns were limited in their capability to return fire, but she managed to get in two hits before slipping beneath the waves. Remarkably, in the circumstances, all but two of the ‘Splendid Penshurst’s’ crew were rescued.
Advanced to Chief Engine Room Artificer, Esdon next joined the sloop Anchusa, and he was likewise employed at the time of her loss to the U-54 off Ireland on 14 July 1918. On passage to Loch Swilly, she was struck by two torpedoes on her starboard side, broke up and sank rapidly, going down in just two minutes. Twelve survivors were picked up the following morning but he was not among them.
The son of Catherine Esdon, of Cato Street, Southwick, Sunderland, and the late John Esdon, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Auction Details
Shipping
T&Cs & Important Info
Ask seller a question
A Great War Q-ship operations D.S.M. awarded to Engine-Room Artificer 1st Class J. C. Esdon, Royal Naval Reserve, who was decorated for his gallant deeds in the ‘splendid Penshurst’ in her action with an enemy submarine on 19 August 1917; having then survived the famous Q-ship’s loss in December 1917, he was among those killed when the sloop Anchusa was torpedoed off Ireland in July 1918
Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (E.A.1824. J. C. Edson, E.R.A. 1Cl. R.N.R. Atlantic Ocean. 19 Aug. 1917.) good very fine £700-£900
---
Importation Duty
This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK
---
---
Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2000.
D.S.M. London Gazette 2 November 1917: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’
The original recommendation for Penshurst’s attack on a German submarine on 19 August 1917 states:
‘This rating particularly rendered conspicuous service in keeping the engines going, connecting up steering gear to the main steering engine, pumping out water, repairing the pumps when they became choked and broke down, being continuously on watch from the time the torpedo struck until the ship arrived in port.’
John Charles Esdon was born in Liverpool on 16 October 1891, and joined the Royal Naval Reserve as an Engine Room Artificer in May 1915. Having then served in the mine-sweeping sloop Larkspur until July 1917, he volunteered for decoy ships and joined the Penshurst (Q. 7).
Just three weeks later, on 19 August 1917, under the command of Lieutenant Cedric Naylor, D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N.R, he was present in her classic decoy ship action with the UC-72, which action led to the award of his D.S.M.
Badly damaged by a torpedo strike below her bridge, and with her hidden guns prematurely exposed, the Penshurst nonetheless pretended to ‘run away’ when the enemy submarine surfaced. She then opened fire with her 3-pounder gun in an attempt to entice the submarine closer before opening up with her heavier guns. Penshurst also used her 12-pounder with good effect and hit UC-72 four times, causing her to break off the action and dive. Penshurst, in her damaged state, was unable to follow up with depth charges and so set course for Plymouth and much needed repairs.
Esdon was subsequently present on the occasion of Penshurst’s loss in the Irish Sea on 24 December 1917, when she was torpedoed by the U-110. Owing to the Q-ship’s heavy list, her guns were limited in their capability to return fire, but she managed to get in two hits before slipping beneath the waves. Remarkably, in the circumstances, all but two of the ‘Splendid Penshurst’s’ crew were rescued.
Advanced to Chief Engine Room Artificer, Esdon next joined the sloop Anchusa, and he was likewise employed at the time of her loss to the U-54 off Ireland on 14 July 1918. On passage to Loch Swilly, she was struck by two torpedoes on her starboard side, broke up and sank rapidly, going down in just two minutes. Twelve survivors were picked up the following morning but he was not among them.
The son of Catherine Esdon, of Cato Street, Southwick, Sunderland, and the late John Esdon, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (E.A.1824. J. C. Edson, E.R.A. 1Cl. R.N.R. Atlantic Ocean. 19 Aug. 1917.) good very fine £700-£900
---
Importation Duty
This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK
---
---
Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2000.
D.S.M. London Gazette 2 November 1917: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’
The original recommendation for Penshurst’s attack on a German submarine on 19 August 1917 states:
‘This rating particularly rendered conspicuous service in keeping the engines going, connecting up steering gear to the main steering engine, pumping out water, repairing the pumps when they became choked and broke down, being continuously on watch from the time the torpedo struck until the ship arrived in port.’
John Charles Esdon was born in Liverpool on 16 October 1891, and joined the Royal Naval Reserve as an Engine Room Artificer in May 1915. Having then served in the mine-sweeping sloop Larkspur until July 1917, he volunteered for decoy ships and joined the Penshurst (Q. 7).
Just three weeks later, on 19 August 1917, under the command of Lieutenant Cedric Naylor, D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N.R, he was present in her classic decoy ship action with the UC-72, which action led to the award of his D.S.M.
Badly damaged by a torpedo strike below her bridge, and with her hidden guns prematurely exposed, the Penshurst nonetheless pretended to ‘run away’ when the enemy submarine surfaced. She then opened fire with her 3-pounder gun in an attempt to entice the submarine closer before opening up with her heavier guns. Penshurst also used her 12-pounder with good effect and hit UC-72 four times, causing her to break off the action and dive. Penshurst, in her damaged state, was unable to follow up with depth charges and so set course for Plymouth and much needed repairs.
Esdon was subsequently present on the occasion of Penshurst’s loss in the Irish Sea on 24 December 1917, when she was torpedoed by the U-110. Owing to the Q-ship’s heavy list, her guns were limited in their capability to return fire, but she managed to get in two hits before slipping beneath the waves. Remarkably, in the circumstances, all but two of the ‘Splendid Penshurst’s’ crew were rescued.
Advanced to Chief Engine Room Artificer, Esdon next joined the sloop Anchusa, and he was likewise employed at the time of her loss to the U-54 off Ireland on 14 July 1918. On passage to Loch Swilly, she was struck by two torpedoes on her starboard side, broke up and sank rapidly, going down in just two minutes. Twelve survivors were picked up the following morning but he was not among them.
The son of Catherine Esdon, of Cato Street, Southwick, Sunderland, and the late John Esdon, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria
Sale Date(s)
Venue Address
16 Bolton Street
London
W1J 8BQ
United Kingdom
General delivery information available from the auctioneer
If you are successful in purchasing lot/s being auctioned by us and opt for the item/s to be sent to you, we will use the following methods of shipment:
Within the UK
If you live within the UK, items will be despatched using Royal Mail Special Delivery. This service provides parcel tracking (via the Royal Mail website) and next weekday delivery (betwen 9am and 1pm). Items delivered within the UK are covered by our insurance company. Heavy and bulky lots will be sent by courier, in discussion with the client.
Outside of the UK
If the item/s being sent are worth under £1000 in total they are sent using Royal Mail’s Signed For International service. This ensures the item must be signed for when it is delivered.
If the item/s being sent are valued at over £1000 in total they will be sent using FedEx. This service allows next day delivery to customers in many parts of the US and parcels are fully trackable using the FedEx website.
Shipping Exceptions
Certain lots such as those containing glass or sharp implements, etc., may not be suitable for in-house shipping within or outside of the UK. Please contact Noonans with any queries.
Important Information
Auctioneer's Buyers Premium: 24% (+VAT)
There is an additional charge of 4.95% (+VAT/sales tax)
