Orders, Decorations and Medals

A 'Q' Ship group of five containing a Roumanian award which is unique to the Royal Marines awarded to Colour Serjeant E. J. Banks, Royal Marine Light Infantry.

1914-15 STAR TRIO, M.I.D. (PO10598 Sgt., R.M.L.I.); NAVAL LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT, G.V.R. (Cr.Sgt.); Roumania, MEDAL FOR BRAVERY AND LOYALTY 'Barbatie Si Credinta,' 1st class with swords, unnamed as issued, the group mounted for display, very fine (5)

Edward John Banks was born in April, 1880, and joined the Royal Marines on 3 November 1899. Promoted to Sergeant on 30 June, 1913, he served throughout the war of 1914-18 with that rank. Banks was to find himself involved in a bizarre action with a German U-Boat with his appointment to H.M.S. Lady Olive in January, 1917. The Lady Olive was a small coasting steamer commissioned by the Royal Navy for 'Q'-ship duties as Q.18, armed with one 4 inch and four 12 pounder guns. Early on the morning of February 19, 1917, she was attacked by a submarine which was coming up firing from three miles astern. When the German commander came on deck, the submarine's engines were still audible and forthwith the Lady Olive gave chase, but nothing more was discerned in the fog. Just before 7a.m. Lieut. F. A. Frank, R.N. R., Lady Olive's Captain, sent away his 'panic parties' in two boats and they began pulling away to the southward, but all the rest on board concealed themselves. Ten minutes later the submarine came close under Lady Olive's stern to read her name. And now the Q-Ship, finding that the enemy bore only 100 yards off, opened fire. The first two shots hit the base of the conning-tower, but a third put the German's gun our of action, killing the German gun-1ayer. Six more shots took effect below the base of the conning tower, killing the man standing therein. The submarine listed to starboard, gradually settling down, and sank.

Meanwhile, unknown to the Captain, the Lady Olive had received two damaging hits in the engine room and it was found impossible to use the wireless. At 9.30 am., Lady Olive being doomed, the ship's boats and rafts were provisioned and Frank saw that the confidential documents were thrown overboard. The Lady Olive sank leaving Lieut. Frank and his men adrift in three boats and two rafts. They rowed ever onward with the intention of making the French coast but by nightfall land had not been sighted. During the night Frank, having already sent one boat off to seek assistance, now was parted from the third. At dawn the following day, still no land was visible. The men were very tired and miserably downhearted; the wind freshening and the sea rising and curling in an ugly fashion. Shortly after midday they spotted the French destroyer 'Dunois 'which was continually altering course and circling towards the Englishmen. Why? A very good reason. The destroyer had observed a submarine following the boat. The Dunois picked up some of the distressed mariners but suddenly she was off again after the submarine. At six o'clock she swept close once more and another 16 men scrambled aboard, but now the Dunois was firing at the submarine and suddenly spurted full speed ahead. The port propellor guard crashed into the side of the boat, ripping its starboard side right out and the craft immediately filled with water though seven men still remained. Dunois approached yet again, when her cutter was lowered and picked up the rest. Taking them into Cherbourg, the destroyer landed the Englishmen and the next day met a trawler with on board the boatload that had been missing. So the episode concluded without loss, though the Q-Ship had gone down to the depths. Banks was mentioned in despatches in the London Gazette of 21 April, 1917, which also announced the award of the D.S.O. to Lieut. Frank. The Roumanian Distinguished Conduct Medal (sic) was announced in the London Gazette on 17 March, 1919. Banks was the only Royal Marine to be awarded the 1st class of this medal and only 8 Roumanian awards were given to the Royal Marines during the 1914-18 War.