Seven: Leading Signalman W. C. Eglington, Royal Navy, who was landed from H.M.S. Doris for signalling duties during the Syrian operations of December 1914 and January 1915; recommended for the D.S.M., he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre

1914-15 Star (195040. W. C. Eglinton. L. Sig. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (195040. W. C. Eglinton. L. Sig. R.N.); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (195040. (Dev. B. 4099) W. C. Eglinton. L.S. R.F.R.); France, Croix de Guerre 1914-17, with bronze palme, mounted for display, contact marks, nearly very fine (7) £300-£400

French Croix de Guerre confirmed on record of service: ‘Noted for War Services -Syrian Coast Operations. Awarded Croix de Guerre vide A.W.O. 1250/19.’

Originally recommended for the D.S.M. by Captain Frank Larken, H.M.S. Doris: ‘I should like to ask for your favourable consideration for the “Distinguished Service Medal” for Leading Signalman William Charles Eglington, O.N. 195404, who has landed nine times and carried out his important signalling duties under fire between the shore and ship with coolness and skill.’

‘In December, 1914 and January 1915, H.M.S Doris (Captain F. Larken) was operating on the coast of Syria and Asia Minor, with a view to interfering with the Turkish communications, in the event of an advance on Egypt, and this led to constant landings on the coast, for destruction of various points, and means of communication. The following is a short account of the several operations in which the Royal Marines were concerned:

At Ascalon, on 15 December, after firing a a few rounds of six-inch at a tent ashore, Captain Wilkinson, R.M.L.I., and 10 of his detachment with a party of seamen under Lieutenant Twigg, with a machine gun landed to investigate. The party came under fire, but effected their object without casualties. Again on 18 December, at Sidon, the seamen under Commander Brounger, destroyed two miles of telegraph and telephone wire; Captain Wilkinson and 15 R.M.L.I. acting as covering party, the work was carried out without opposition, and at dusk, another Naval party landed to cut the railway.

On 19 December, the Doris commenced the bombardment of the coast road and railway, leading out of Alexandretta to the northward, and then sent in an ultimatum, giving the Turks 18 hours in which to surrender all war material, or the town would be bombarded; two locomotives were ultimately surrendered for destruction.

On 21 December, Commander Brounger, with 39 seamen and Captain Wilkinson, with 24 Royal Marines, landed to demolish the railway bridge, near Dinort Yol station; the landing party came under rifle fire on landing, which was soon silenced by the ship's guns. The advance to the bridge, which was about one mile distant, was unopposed, the party successfully damaged the bridge and returned to their boats, bringing off the telegraph instruments from the station. Although a small party of the enemy was entrenched on the beach, they did not open fire on the boats.

On 5 January, 1915, Commander Brounger, with 100 seamen, and Captain Wilkinson, with 40 R.M.L.I., with a 12-pounder field gun and two machine-guns, were sent in to destroy the railway bridge, which was three miles east of Messina, and two and a half miles inland. The boats left the ship at 3.30a.m., to carry out the work before daylight, but on approaching the shore, they came under the fire of field guns and rifles of the enemy, and were recalled to the ship.

On 6 January, two parties landed west of Alexandretta, one under Captain Wilkinson, the northern party, to cover a railway demolition, and the other to carry out a second demolition, each party consisted of 29 seamen, 5 stokers and 22 Royal Marines. The distance between the parties was about one and a half miles; the landings were unopposed, but the scouts were fired on by a party of Turks, who ran when the ship opened fire. All the demolition work was successfully carried out and the telegraph line was destroyed for some distance.

The Torpedo Lieutenant with 32 seamen, and Captain Wilkinson with eight Royal Marines, landed again on 7 January, four miles north of Alexandretta, to demolish a road bridge. The landing was opposed by snipers, and Corporal Warburton (Portsmouth) was killed; Private Wallace (Portsmouth), was awarded the D.S.M., for assisting to carry the body back to the boat under fire. They re-embarked under fire and were lucky to escape with few casualties; three petty officers and one stoker were also awarded the D.S.M.

That their operations had effected their object was shown by a report received from General Officer Commanding, Egypt, on 12 January, that the work of the Doris had prevented 40,000 Turks from marching towards the Suez Canal.’ (Blumberg’s Britain’s Sea Soldiers refers).

William Charles Eglington was born in Pimlico, London, on 20 December 1881, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. Impregnable on 21 September 1897, and trained as a signaller, in which rate he qualified June 1901. He was advanced to Leading Signalman in May 1910, and joined the Devonport Royal Fleet Reserve on 20 December 1911. He served aboard Doris from 2 August 1914 to 11 August 1916, and afterwards at Vivid I, Vivid III and Colleen, receiving ship at Queenstown, Ireland. Englinton was shore pensioned on 10 May 1921. Sold with a quantity of copied research including record of service, an image of Eglington in uniform, and official report on Syrian Coast operations.