A scarce Great War U-boat action D.S.C., Lloyd’s Meritorious Service Medal pair awarded to Captain J. R. Godfrey, Mercantile Marine

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., Hallmarks for London 1917, the reverse privately inscribed, ‘Captain John R. Godfrey, S.S. “Enda”, 2nd January 1918’, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; Lloyd’s Medal for Meritorious Services, 3rd type, silver (Captain John R. Godfrey, S.S. “Enda”, 2nd January 1918), in its Wyon case of issue, the second with a few edge nicks, otherwise good very fine (2) £1200-1500

D.S.C. London Gazette 6 April 1918:

‘In recognition of zeal and devotion to duty shown in carrying on the trade of the country during the War.’

John Robert Godfrey, who was born in Egremont, Cheshire in 1871, was awarded his Mate’s certificate in April 1894 and his Master’s certificate in October 1899.

His D.S.C. was awarded in respect of the following action, as described by Godfrey in his official report:

‘The Enda is a vessel of 10 knots. We left Dublin at 9.25 a.m. on 2 January 1918, bound for Garston in water ballast ... All went well until 12.20 p.m. when I sighted a steamer dead ahead which appeared to be in difficulties. I immediately gave orders to the Engineers to raise on all possible steam and proceeded towards the steamer afore mentioned. When I sighted the steamer I was in a position 20 miles East of the Bailey Lighthouse.

The weather at the time was fine. Fresh N.N.E. wind and heavy swell. At 1.30 p.m., I was close up to the steamer which turned out to be the Russian S.S. Nadejda. By the time I was about 150 feet from her she was well down by the stern but there was no sign of anyone on board.

I called for volunteers to board her which I obtained at once, the crew consisting of the Mate, Cook, an Able Seaman and a Fireman. We launched the boat and the volunteer crew proceeded to the Russian steamer. But when the boat was close alongside the steamer, the Fireman and Able Seaman refused to go any further, so the Mate reluctantly had to turn the boat round and go back to the Enda. I then took my boat aboard and attempted to proceed on my passage to Liverpool ... At 2.45 p.m., without any warning or any sign of a submarine or periscope, a torpedo was seen approaching the ship coming towards the port quarter from astern, and pass within 40 yards of the Enda. The lookouts at the time were the two gunners by the gun and the Mate and myself on the bridge.

Immediately after the torpedo cleared us a shell dropped within 20 feet of us off the port quarter. At this time the Mate observed a submarine sharp on the port quarter bearing about N.N.E. distant about one and a half miles. I immediately opened fire with my 12-pounder and manoeuvred the ship to keep the submarine dead astern, giving orders for a full head of steam.

While the firing was going on I set the smoke boxes and the cowls going, which hid us from the submarine. We exchanged shots until 3.40 p.m., the submarine keeping at a distance of about one and a half miles for the first 20 minutes, when we opened the range (1000 yards). The first shot with the new range was a hit striking the submarine amidships. I could not see the damage done to the submarine by this hit but the gun’s crew were certain it was a hit and reported it as such, and besides there was no splash in the water by the falling shot. The submarine immediately opened fire for about two or three minutes and then opened fire again with two guns, this time firing ordinary shell with one and shrapnel with the other.

I manoeuvred the ship running before the wind so that I could bring her out on either side of the smoke clouds to sight the submarine and fire at her. On such occasions when I emerged from the smoke the submarine fired at me but always missed.

This continued until 3.40 p.m. when I sighted a destroyer coming up on my port bow, which I think was an American destroyer. She immediately opened fire, firing her first shot across my stern, which I took as a signal to clear out and he would carry on. As I saw the destroyer making straight for the submarine and firing rapidly at her, I continued on my voyage and arrived safely at Dublin at 6.45 p.m., having seen nothing further of the submarine. Throughout the encounter, I sustained no damage whatsoever to my ship.



The conduct of the gun’s crew throughout the encounter was magnificent. The sailors refused to go aft and supply the gun with ammunition, so the senior gunner left the junior gunner firing the gun, and taking the Cook with him, supplied ammunition, so that the firing was carried on. The Mate and 2nd Mate, who were part of the gun’s crew, remained at their posts throughout the whole of the engagement and their conduct was the same as the two gunners - magnificent.

The Chief Engineer remained in the engine room while the 2nd Engineer had to go into the stokehold to take the place of the Firemen who deserted their posts. I remained on the bridge directing the firing and manoeuvring the ship.

The target presented by the submarine appeared as the sketches I have made for you. She was about 300 feet long and from 10-15 feet high at the highest part. I saw nothing that led me to think there were any saddle tanks simply seeing an ordinary hull. She had no masts and two guns; one forward and one aft, which, from a piece of shrapnel that fell on board, led the senior gunner to think she was a 4-inch gun.

She appeared to us as if she had been newly black varnished and fresh from dock. We could not make out the men working the gun or any of the crew on board. As naturally it was an anxious and busy time for us during the fight, I am unable to give you any further details of the appearance and description of the submarine.’