Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War ‘Q’ Ship D.S.M. awarded to Engine-Room Artificer J. C. Esdon, Royal Naval Reserve, for services in the ‘Q’ Ship Penshurst, one of the most famous and highly decorated Decoy Ships of the War

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (E.A.1824. E.R.A.1Cl. R.N.R. Atlantic Ocean 19 Aug.1917) good very fine £600-800

D.S.M. London Gazette 2 November 1917: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’

John Charles Edson was an Engine-Room Artificer aboard the Q-Ship Penshurst in her action against a German submarine on 19 August 1917. In the course of the action Penshurst was torpedoed and badly damaged by gunfire, exposing her hidden guns. Despite this, the submarine surfaced and Penshurst pretended to ‘run away’ according to plan. She then opened fire with her 3-pounder gun in an attempt to entice the submarine closer before opening up with her heavier guns. Hits were scored against the submarine and eventually Penshurst used her 12-pounder with good effect and hit the submarine four times, causing it to break off the action and dive. Penshurst, badly damaged, was unable to follow up with depth charges, and so set course for Plymouth and much needed repairs.

Edson was also aboard Penshurst in her final action on 24 December 1917, when she was again torpedoed but this time she was sunk, although with no loss to the crew who were all rescued. Her two captains during her successful career as a decoy ship, Francis Grenfell and Cedric Naylor, both received multiple decorations, Naylor being the most highly decorated Naval officer of the Great War with three D.S.O’s and two D.S.C’s, all for service in Penshurst.