A Great War D.S.M. awarded to Chief Petty Officer H. E. Knight, Royal Navy, for the sinking of the German Submarine U8 off Dover on 4 March 1915

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (176903 H. E. Knight, P.O., H.M.S. Ghurka [sic].) minor edge bruising, otherwise good very fine £600-£800

D.S.M. London Gazette 10 April 1915:
‘For services in connection with the sinking of the German Submarine U8 off Dover on 4th March 1915.’

Henry Ernest Knight was born in Kennington, London, on 21 October 1878, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 25 October 1893. He was advanced Able Seaman in H.M.S. Philomel on 15 August 1897; Leading Seaman in H.M.S. Rodney on 22 November 1900; and was appointed Petty Officer on 28 May 1904. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 11 November 1911, and joined H.M.S. Gurkha on 30 December 1914. For his services in the sinking of the German Submarine U8 off Dover on 4 March 1915 he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal- trapped in nets, U8 was forced to surface, and coming under intense gunfire from H.M.S. Gurkha and Maori was scuttled. Knight was advanced Chief Petty Officer on 11 August 1916, and served for the remainder of the Great War borne on the books of various shore establishments, before being shore demobilised on 25 December 1919.

Another D.S.M. to this man, correct in all respects, as part of a group of seven comprising his full entitlement, is known to exist, and is held in a private collection.