Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War D.S.M. awarded to Deck Hand A. G. Holt, Royal Naval Reserve, H.M. Drifter Vera Creina

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (D.A.1005 Dk. Hd. R.N.R. “Vera Creina” Dover Patrol. 14-15 Feb. 1918) contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine £400-500

D.S.M. London Gazette 15 March 1918: ‘For services in action on the occasion of the raid into the Straits of Dover by enemy destroyers on the night of the 14th-15th February 1918. Deck Hand Arthur George Holt, R.N.R., ON 4186 DA.’ One D.S.C. and two D.S.M.s awarded to this Drifter, for which the recommendation reads:

‘Displayed gallantry and presence of mind in keeping their ship afloat by plugging holes with beds and blankets, when badly holed by two 4” shell.’

On the night of 14th/15th February 1918, a dramatic raid took place by German destroyers against vessels of the Dover Patrol, causing serious losses which included the sinking of one armed trawler and seven drifters. The enemy’s object was to destroy the ‘light barrier’ as they called the British flare ships, whose effect was to make the Straits of Dover almost impassable. Two half flotillas of destroyers were employed on the raid. Between Folkestone and Griz Nez there existed a series of buoys which were used to assist the patrols to maintain their positions. About two and a half miles on either side of this line were stationed trawlers, paddlers and other small craft, to either burn flares or to use searchlights. There was also fifty-eight drifters patrolling this line.

At 12.40 a.m. one half flotilla of four destroyers started the attack from the NW by shelling the paddler Newbury, whose revolving searchlight made her an easy target. The destroyers then proceeded slowly down the drifter line and sank the drifters W. Elliot and Veracity. The paddler Lingfield and a motor launch also came under fire, but some drifters managed to make their escape. The enemy then disappeared.

Three destroyers made an attack from the SE at about 12.45 a.m. near the Griz Nez end of the line. The trawler James Pond was soon on fire. The crew endeavoured to extinguish the flames and beach her, but the vessel finally had to be abandoned. Proceeding along the line, the enemy shelled the drifter Clover Bank, which took fire, and afterwards sank. The destroyers then sank the drifters Cosmos and Jeannie Murray. Only four survivors escaped from these three craft. The next to be shelled were the drifters Golden Grain, Golden Rule, Violet May and Treasure, which were all damaged. At about 1.30 a.m. the Germans turned back when about halfway across the Channel and on the return journey met and sank the drifter Silver Queen, which had taken off the survivors of the Cosmos. Finally, after firing on two more drifters, these destroyers made off. This raid cost the Patrol heavy losses of men and ships. There were sunk one armed trawler, seven drifters, and one paddler and six drifters damaged. The subsequent awards included 5 D.S.C.s, 2 Bars to the D.S.C., 3 C.G.M.s and 13 D.S.M.s. See also Lot 1048 for the medals to Skipper John Colby who was killed in this raid whilst in command of the drifter Clover Bank.