Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Battle of Jutland’ D.S.M. group of six awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer T. Battye, Royal Navy, for services aboard H.M.S. Defender, which although damaged and under heavy fire, towed out of battle the damaged H.M.S. Onlow; Battye himself was wounded during the battle

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (268688. T. Battye, C.E.R.A. H.M.S. Defender. 31 May – 1 June 1916); China 1900, no clasp (T. Battye, E.R.A. 3 Cl., H.M.S. Daphne.); 1914-15 Star (268688, T. Battye, C.E.R.A.1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (268688 T. Battye. C.E.R.A.1 R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (268688 Tom Battye, C.E.R.A. 1Cl., H.M.S. Pembroke.); together with the recipient’s Silver War Badge, the reverse officially numbered ‘RN14477’; and a Battle of Jutland Commemorative Medal, by Spink & Son, London, white metal, in card box of issue, very fine and better (8) £800-£1,200

D.S.M. London Gazette 30 November 1917:
‘For services in the Battle of Jutland.’

Thomas Battye was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, on 25 November 1874 and joined the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer, on 29 February 1896. Serving aboard a number of ships, including H.M.S. Daphne during the Third China War, by 1903 he had already attained the rating of Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class. Awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in April 1912, on the outbreak of the Great War, Battye was serving aboard the Depot ship, H.M.S. Hecla. On 25 July 1915, he joined the Acheron Class destroyer, H.M.S. Defender and would serve aboard this ship at the battle of Jutland, 31 May to 1 June 1916. At the Battle of Jutland, H.M.S. Defender was part of the First Destroyer Flotilla which operated in support of Admiral Beatty’s battlecruiser force. Hit by a shell at about 18:30 on 31 May, she was forced out of formation of the rest of the flotilla. However on restoring power and under heavy fire, Defender took in tow the damaged H.M.S. Onlow. In his after action report, Admiral Beatty would write:

‘Defender, whose speed had been reduced to 10 knots, while on the disengaged side of the battle cruisers, was struck by a shell which damaged her foremost boiler, but closed Onslow and took her in tow. Shells were falling all round them during this operation, which, however, was successfully accomplished. During the heavy weather of the ensuing night the tow parted twice, but was re-secured. The two struggled on together until 1:00 p.m. on 1 June, when Onslow was transferred to tugs. I consider the performances of these two destroyers to be gallant in the extreme, and I am recommending Lieutenant-Commander J. C. Tovey of Onslow, and Lieutenant-Commander Palmer of Defender, for special recognition.’

As to Battye himself, his service record notes he was slightly wounded in action on 31 May, and for his actions during the battle was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. He was finally shore demobilised on 6 March 1920.