Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant S. C. Court, Royal Naval Reserve, who won a “mention” for gallantry in anti-submarine operations

1914-15 Star (Lieut. S. C. Court, R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. S. C. Court, R.N.R.), generally very fine or better (3) £150-200

Sydney Charles Court was appointed a Sub. Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve in December 1914, advanced to Lieutenant in March 1915, and served in H.M. trawlers operating out of Portland for much of the War, among them the Sea King, in which he was mentioned in despatches ‘for gallantry and general devotion to duty in the face of the enemy’ in a submarine hunting flotilla in the period July-November 1918 (the original recommendation refers; London Gazette 24 March 1919).

Court had served earlier in the trawler Oku, joining her ship’s company in June 1915, and was probably still with her on the occasion of the destruction of the U-74 in May 1916. E. Keble Chatterton’s The Auxiliary Patrol, takes up the story:

‘From this same source we know that it was part of the plan that U-74 should lay a cargo of mines off the south-east corner of the Firth of Forth (obviously to trap Admiral Beatty's battle cruiser-fleet). Four days, then, before Jutland took place, the armed trawlers Searanger (Lieutenant H. J. Bray, R.N.R.), Oku, Rodino, and Kimberley were on patrol over a hundred miles seaward of Peterhead, when suddenly a sail and smoke were sighted, steering on an easterly course. On proceeding to investigate, this sail and smoke were found to be the disguise of a submarine - in fact, U-74. The time was 12.30 p.m., and presently Searanger, Oku,and Rodino opened fire, the condition of the sea being smooth. Now intentionally these four trawlers were cruising in no formation, but resembled, by their motions, fishing vessels scattered, at work. For such, in fact, U-74 evidently mistook them, and was thoroughly bluffed. The range was quickly found, and as soon as Searanger's shell struck the submarine, the latter threw away all disguise, lowered sail, and returned the fire alternately at each of the trawlers as they gradually closed round the enemy.

This submarine was armed with one gun for'ard and one aft, and quite early the latter gun was put out of action. The enemy's shots fell short, her periscope was partially shot away; she ceased fire altogether, and tried to escape by submerging. But the trawlers were too smart for her, and were already half-encircling her. Suddenly she was seen to rise to the surface with a heavy list and an erratic course, like some drunken thing. Kimberley tried to ram, but she was too close, so she fired into the submarine at point-blank range three shots. By half-past one U-74 went to the bottom for good and all, leaving behind only oil for her remembrance. Thus once again the Auxiliary Patrol had destroyed a submarine.’

Court was demobilised in 1919; sold with brief research.