The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 2)

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (198423. D. Flynn, P.O., L. Tanganyika 9 Feb. 1916) good very fine and very rare

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 14 July 1916 ‘The following awards have been approved.’

At 0600 on the morning of 9 February 1916 the German gunboat HEDWIG VON WISSMANN was sighted steaming slowly southward. In tonnage the HEDWIG was three times as large as either FIFI or MIMI and was also better armed. Commander Spicer Simpson set out in FIFI, the new name given to the captured KINGANI. TOUTOU being damaged he gave Command of MIMI to Lieutenant Wainwright with Petty Officer Flynn as the Gunlayer. When the HEDWIG recognised the enemy motor boats roaring towards her she immediately turned around and headed northwards. Although both British vessels were pouring oil on their firewood the FIFI began to lose ground and was overtaken by the MIMI. When Wainwright was within 3,000 yards he gave the order to Petty Officer Flynn to open fire, and he soon found the range and begun to hit the HEDWIG who was only able to return fire with her stern gun. The HEDWIG had been badly damaged and her speed began to drop off which allowed FIFI to close up, and to use her 12-pdr gun to good effect. HEDWIG was repeatedly hit by both Flynn in MIMI and by Waterhouse in FIFI. One of the 12-pdr shells burst in the engine room and blew a large hole in her side. She swung round to starboard gradually losing way and began to settle by the head. At 11.15 she went down by the head with her stern rising out of the water.

The D.S.C. group to Lieut Wainwright and the D.S.M. group to Chief Petty Officer Waterhouse were both sold in Part 1 of this collection where further details will be found. Such was the remarkable nature of the entire expedition that a contemporary commentator was moved to write: “No single achievement during World War 1 was distinguished by more bizarre features than the successfully executed undertaking of 28 daring men who transported a ‘ready-made’ navy overland through the wilds of Africa to destroy an enemy flotilla in control of Lake Tanganyika.” In consequence of the success of this Expedition, 1 D.S.O., 3 D.S.Cs and 12 D.S.Ms were awarded to the Officers and ratings who participated in it.