Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Great War ‘Jutland’ C.G.M. group of seven awarded to Stoker Petty Officer William Ackerman, of H.M.S. Marlborough, the only ship to be torpedoed during the battle

Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, G.V.R. (301992 W. Ackerman, St. P.O. H.M.S. Marlborough, 31 May-1 June 1916); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (301992 W. Ackerman, Sto. 1 Cl. H.M.S. Fox); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (301992 W. Ackerman, Act. Lg. Sto. H.M.S. Fox); 1914-15 Star, naming erased; British War Medal (301992 W. Ackerman, S.P.O. R.N.); Victory Medal, naming erased; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue with fixed suspension (301992 W. Ackerman, Ch. Sto. H.M.S. Vivid) nearly very fine or better and rare (7) £10000-12000

C.G.M. London Gazette 15 September 1916 [directly following the announcement of the Victoria Cross to Boy 1st Class, John Travers Cornwall] - To receive the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. Stoker Petty Officer William Ackerman, O.N. 301992.

‘Stoker Petty Officer William Ackerman evidenced considerable aptitude and bravery in clearing a suction box in a damaged compartment and freeing the rods in use to keep it clear. It was necessary at one time for him to descend in a diving suit for the purpose.

From the time of the explosion, caused by a torpedo striking the ship on May 31st, every effort was made to keep the suction boxes of pumps in “A” boiler room clear of dirt, etc. Occasionally, however, owing to the boxes being obstructed the water rose and, during the middle watch on the morning of June 2nd, it rose to a height of 6 or 7 feet above the floor plates.

S.P.O. Ackerman, in a diving suit went down and removed a guard in the vicinity of the suction of the ash expeller pump which facilitated the working of the rods used to keep the suction box clear, and enabled the water to be again reduced to the level of the floor plates.’ (Ref Gallant Deeds, the first paragraph also forming the citation as published in the London Gazette).

H.M.S. Marlborough, flagship of Vice-Admiral Burney Commanding the First Battle Squadron, was the only ship of the Grand Fleet to be hit by torpedo in the battle of Jutland, a remarkable point that was not lost on Admiral Jellicoe in his despatch:

‘One of the features of the action was the large number of torpedoes that crossed our line without taking effect on any ship except Marlborough. Sir Cecil Burney estimates that at least twenty-one torpedoes were seen to cross the line of his squadron. All were avoided by skilful handling, except that single one, and it is notable that the Marlborough herself evaded seven. Similarly the Fifth Battle Squadron, in rear of the First Battle Squadron, avoided a considerable number and the other squadrons had similar experiences.’

The following narrative of events were noted by an officer from the fore-top of H.M.S. Marlborough:

‘At 6.54 we were hit by a torpedo. We thought at the time it might have been a mine, for we saw no track of a torpedo whatsoever, but we know now for certain that it was a torpedo as bits of one were found later in the ship. It hit on the starboard side, and aloft the top swayed a lot and finally took up a list to starboard, so that I imagined one strut of the tripod mast had been shot away; but looking over the side of the top I saw that it was the whole ship that had taken a list to starboard. The shock caused some of the switches on the electrical switchboard to jump, and one of the gunnery control instruments got out of step; also some fuses of the telephone circuits went, but they were very quickly, replaced.

A few minutes after we were hit we passed a destroyer, the Acasta, close on our port hand, flying 6 flag - “Am in danger of sinking” - and the “Not under control” signal; she had a collision mat stretched out over her starboard quarter. I was afraid for a moment that we were going to collide with her, as we passed so close to her that from aloft she was almost hidden by our ram, and we seemed to be practically on top of her. But she came by all clear, and her men cheered as we passed.

At about 7 o'clock, when we were just getting “square” again after the torpedo explosion, three tracks of torpedoes were seen approaching on the starboard side, all three apparently going to cross our track. The bridge were informed, and the ship was turned to port to avoid them, so that two passed ahead and one astern of us. Five or ten minutes before this some German destroyers had appeared on our starboard bow, so presumably these torpedoes, as well as the one that had hit us, came from them.

Directly after we had dodged these three torpedoes a four-funnelled cruiser of apparently the Roon class came into sight on our starboard beam, range 9,800 yards, bearing exactly on the beam, Green 90. She was stopped and already badly damaged, but we opened fire on her and fired four salvoes. The third and fourth salvoes hit her, opened up her sides, and revealed a deep red flame inside her hull. This was at 7.3, and two minutes later we ceased fire, as she appeared to be completely disabled and was sinking fast.

We now sighted three battleships, and at 7.6 shifted target on to the left-hand one of them - they were ships of the Konig class, carrying two funnels wide apart. We opened fire at a range of 10,750 yards, and fired 14 salvoes. The sixth, the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth were all distinct hits. From the sixth salvo a large cloud of grey smoke appeared near her foremast, and from the twelfth salvo two hits could be seen under her bridge, rather low down.

At 7.10 we fired a torpedo from the fore submerged tube at the disabled enemy cruiser. At 7.19 a flotilla of German destroyers appeared on our starboard quarter, approaching us, and fire was quickly opened upon them with the 6-inch battery. Also one 13.5 inch salvo was fired from the turrets. Two destroyers were hit, and the remainder immediately turned away to starboard and disappeared from sight behind a dense cloud of funnel smoke. Fourteen minutes later (7.33) the tracks of the torpedoes they had fired were observed approaching from the starboard bow and beam. The tracks were quite clear to us from aloft, and could be picked out when nearly a mile away. At once we reported to the bridge, and they altered course to starboard, so that No. 1 track, the farthest off, passed ahead of us, but Nos. 2 and 3 were nearly on top of us before the ship commenced swinging. No. 2 passed so close to the stern that we lost sight of its track from the top, and we should certainly have been hit if the stern had not been swinging away under the influence of helm; and No. 3, which I saw break surface when about 500 yards on our beam, came straight for the ship, and its track came right up against our starboard quarter - it must have been running below its depth and went right under the ship. The fact that these three were as clear as daylight, whereas no track was visible from the torpedo that had hit us at 6.54, made one think that it was a mine, not a torpedo by which we had been hit, but, as I said, other certain evidence showed that it was a torpedo.’

Remarkably, only two stokers had been killed by the explosion of the torpedo. As Executive officer of H.M.S. Marlborough, Commander Currey was responsible for damage control and organizing repairs to the ship. At 3 a.m. on 1st June Vice-Admiral Burney reported that he had transferred his flag to Revenge and that Marlborough, her speed now reduced to 12 knots, was proceeding with Fearless in company and a few hours later four destroyers were detached to screen Marlborough. At 6.50 p.m., after a long day of repair work and damage assessment, Marlborough reported - ‘All compartments between 78 and 111 stations starboard from outer bottom to middle or main deck probably flooded. All double bottom compartments between these stations on starboard side vertical keel damaged and probably double bottom compartments vertical to 2nd longitudinal on port side also damaged. Boilers, auxiliary machinary in “A” boiler room not damaged, except air blower and Diesel engine oil pump. “A” boiler room partially flooded but water is being kept under.’

Marlborough arrived safely in the Humber on the morning of 2nd June, screened by Fearless and eight destroyers. Commander Currey was praised for his ‘untiring energy and skilful work,’ which ‘greatly assisted in saving the ship after she was torpedoed’ and was subsequently awarded the D.S.O. which he received from the King at Buckingham Palace on 5 February 1917. Amongst recipients of other gallantry awards, Marlborough’s engine-room stoke-hold ratings featured to the fore, including C.G.Ms. to Stoker P.O. William Ackerman of “A” boiler room and Stoker Joseph Hughes of the starboard forward hydraulic room, which was immediately above the compartment which was struck by the torpedo, as well as several D.S.Ms. Only 10 C.G.Ms were awarded for the battle of Jutland.