Gazette Information: GAZETTE ISSUE 30363, VICTORIA CROSS,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30363/supplements/11315. Honours for services in action with enemy submarines. The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned for services in action with enemy submarines:- P.O. Ernest Pitcher, O.N. 227029 (Po.). P.O. Pitcher was selected by the crew of a gun of one of H.M. ships to receive the Victoria Cross under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant dated the 29th January 1856. GAZETTE ISSUE 31021, VICTORIA CROSS,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31021/supplements/13694. Admiralty, 20th November 1918. With reference to announcements of the award of the Victoria Cross to naval officers and men for services in action with enemy submarines, the following are the accounts of the actions for which these awards were made:- Action of HMS “Dunraven” on the 8th August 1917. On the 8th August 1917, HMS “Dunraven,” under the command of Captain Gordon Campbell, V.C., D.S.O., Royal Navy, sighted an enemy submarine on the horizon. In her rôle of armed British merchant ship, the “Dunraven” continued her zig-zag course, whereupon the submarine closed, remaining submerged to within 5,000 yards, and then, rising to the surface, opened fire. The “Dunraven” returned the fire with her merchant ship gun, at the same time reducing speed to enable the enemy to overtake her. Wireless signals were also sent out for the benefit of the submarine: “Help! Come quickly – submarine chasing and shelling me.” Finally, when the shells began falling close, the “Dunraven” stopped and abandoned ship by the “panic party.” The ship was then being heavily shelled, and on fire aft. In the meantime the submarine closed to 400 yards distant, partly obscured from view by the dense clouds of smoke issuing from the “Dunraven's” stern. Despite the knowledge that the after magazine must inevitably explode if he waited, and further, that a gun and gun's crew lay concealed over the magazine, Captain Campbell decided to reserve his fire until the submarine had passed clear of the smoke. A moment later, however, a heavy explosion occurred aft, blowing the gun and the gun's crew into the air, and accidentally starting the fire-gongs at the remaining gun positions; screens were immediately dropped, and the only gun that would bear opened fire, but the submarine, apparently frightened by the explosion, had already commenced to submerge. Realising that a torpedo must inevitably follow, Captain Campbell ordered the surgeon to remove all wounded and conceal them in cabins; hoses were also turned on the poop, which was a mass of flames. A signal was sent out warning men-of-war to divert all traffic below the horizon in order that nothing should interrupt the final phase of the action. Twenty minutes later a torpedo again struck the ship abaft the engine-room. An additional party of men were again sent away as a “panic party,” and left the ship to outward appearances completely abandoned, with the White Ensign flying and guns unmasked. For the succeeding fifty minutes the submarine examined the ship through her periscope. During this period boxes of cordite and shells exploded every few minutes, and the fire on the poop still blazed furiously. Captain Campbell and the handful of officers and men who remained on board lay hidden during this ordeal. The submarine then rose to the surface astern, where no guns could bear and shelled the ship closely for twenty minutes. The enemy then submerged and steamed past the ship 150 yards off, examining her through the periscope. Captain Campbell decided then to fire one of his torpedoes, but missed by a few inches. The submarine crossed the bows and came slowly down the other side, whereupon a second torpedo was fired and missed again. The enemy observed it and immediately submerged. Urgent signals for assistance were immediately sent out, but pending arrival of assistance Captain Campbell arranged for a third “panic party” to jump overboard if necessary and leave one gun's crew on board for a final attempt to destroy the enemy, should he again attack. Almost immediately afterwards, however, British and American destroyers arrived on the scene, the wounded were transferred, boats were recalled and the fire extinguished. The “Dunraven” although her stern was awash, was taken in tow, but the weather grew worse, and early the following morning she sank with colours flying. (The award of the Victoria Cross to Petty Officer Ernest Pitcher, O.N. 227029 (Po.) was announced in London Gazette No. 30363, dated the 2nd November 1917.) THE REGISTER OF THE VICTORIA CROSS CITATION READS:- On 8th August 1917 in the Bay of Biscay, Petty Officer Pitcher was the 4-inch gun-layer on HMS Dunraven (one of the “Q” or “mystery” ships) when she was shelled by an enemy submarine. He and the rest of the crew waited while the battle went on overhead and all round them. When the magazine below them caught fire they took up cartridges and held them on their knees to prevent the heat of the deck igniting them and when the magazine finally blew up they were all blown into the air. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30194/supplements/7425. GAZETTE ISSUE 30194, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Distinguished Service Medal for services in actions with enemy submarines. CROIX DE GUERRE,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30437/supplements/13320. GAZETTE ISSUE 30437, Conferred by the President of the French Republic, CROIX DE GUERRE; For distinguished services rendered during the War. MÉDAILLE MILITAIRE,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30870/supplements/10091. GAZETTE ISSUE 30870, MÉDAILLE MILITAIRE, Decoration conferred by the President of the French Republic for distinguished services rendered during the War. His Majesty the KING has given unrestricted permission to wear the Decoration in question.
Fold3_Team · Oct 31, 2023
Gazette Information: GAZETTE ISSUE 30363, VICTORIA CROSS,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30363/supplements/11315. Honours for services in action with enemy submarines. The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned for services in action with enemy submarines:- P.O. Ernest Pitcher, O.N. 227029 (Po.). P.O. Pitcher was selected by the crew of a gun of one of H.M. ships to receive the Victoria Cross under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant dated the 29th January 1856. GAZETTE ISSUE 31021, VICTORIA CROSS,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31021/supplements/13694. Admiralty, 20th November 1918. With reference to announcements of the award of the Victoria Cross to naval officers and men for services in action with enemy submarines, the following are the accounts of the actions for which these awards were made:- Action of HMS “Dunraven” on the 8th August 1917. On the 8th August 1917, HMS “Dunraven,” under the command of Captain Gordon Campbell, V.C., D.S.O., Royal Navy, sighted an enemy submarine on the horizon. In her rôle of armed British merchant ship, the “Dunraven” continued her zig-zag course, whereupon the submarine closed, remaining submerged to within 5,000 yards, and then, rising to the surface, opened fire. The “Dunraven” returned the fire with her merchant ship gun, at the same time reducing speed to enable the enemy to overtake her. Wireless signals were also sent out for the benefit of the submarine: “Help! Come quickly – submarine chasing and shelling me.” Finally, when the shells began falling close, the “Dunraven” stopped and abandoned ship by the “panic party.” The ship was then being heavily shelled, and on fire aft. In the meantime the submarine closed to 400 yards distant, partly obscured from view by the dense clouds of smoke issuing from the “Dunraven's” stern. Despite the knowledge that the after magazine must inevitably explode if he waited, and further, that a gun and gun's crew lay concealed over the magazine, Captain Campbell decided to reserve his fire until the submarine had passed clear of the smoke. A moment later, however, a heavy explosion occurred aft, blowing the gun and the gun's crew into the air, and accidentally starting the fire-gongs at the remaining gun positions; screens were immediately dropped, and the only gun that would bear opened fire, but the submarine, apparently frightened by the explosion, had already commenced to submerge. Realising that a torpedo must inevitably follow, Captain Campbell ordered the surgeon to remove all wounded and conceal them in cabins; hoses were also turned on the poop, which was a mass of flames. A signal was sent out warning men-of-war to divert all traffic below the horizon in order that nothing should interrupt the final phase of the action. Twenty minutes later a torpedo again struck the ship abaft the engine-room. An additional party of men were again sent away as a “panic party,” and left the ship to outward appearances completely abandoned, with the White Ensign flying and guns unmasked. For the succeeding fifty minutes the submarine examined the ship through her periscope. During this period boxes of cordite and shells exploded every few minutes, and the fire on the poop still blazed furiously. Captain Campbell and the handful of officers and men who remained on board lay hidden during this ordeal. The submarine then rose to the surface astern, where no guns could bear and shelled the ship closely for twenty minutes. The enemy then submerged and steamed past the ship 150 yards off, examining her through the periscope. Captain Campbell decided then to fire one of his torpedoes, but missed by a few inches. The submarine crossed the bows and came slowly down the other side, whereupon a second torpedo was fired and missed again. The enemy observed it and immediately submerged. Urgent signals for assistance were immediately sent out, but pending arrival of assistance Captain Campbell arranged for a third “panic party” to jump overboard if necessary and leave one gun's crew on board for a final attempt to destroy the enemy, should he again attack. Almost immediately afterwards, however, British and American destroyers arrived on the scene, the wounded were transferred, boats were recalled and the fire extinguished. The “Dunraven” although her stern was awash, was taken in tow, but the weather grew worse, and early the following morning she sank with colours flying. (The award of the Victoria Cross to Petty Officer Ernest Pitcher, O.N. 227029 (Po.) was announced in London Gazette No. 30363, dated the 2nd November 1917.) THE REGISTER OF THE VICTORIA CROSS CITATION READS:- On 8th August 1917 in the Bay of Biscay, Petty Officer Pitcher was the 4-inch gun-layer on HMS Dunraven (one of the “Q” or “mystery” ships) when she was shelled by an enemy submarine. He and the rest of the crew waited while the battle went on overhead and all round them. When the magazine below them caught fire they took up cartridges and held them on their knees to prevent the heat of the deck igniting them and when the magazine finally blew up they were all blown into the air. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30194/supplements/7425. GAZETTE ISSUE 30194, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Distinguished Service Medal for services in actions with enemy submarines. CROIX DE GUERRE,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30437/supplements/13320. GAZETTE ISSUE 30437, Conferred by the President of the French Republic, CROIX DE GUERRE; For distinguished services rendered during the War. MÉDAILLE MILITAIRE,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30870/supplements/10091. GAZETTE ISSUE 30870, MÉDAILLE MILITAIRE, Decoration conferred by the President of the French Republic for distinguished services rendered during the War. His Majesty the KING has given unrestricted permission to wear the Decoration in question.