Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Great War D.S.M. group of four awarded to Donkeyman D. Gartlan, Mercantile Marine, whose ship, H.M.S. Otway, was torpedoed and sunk by UC-49 off the Hebrides in July 1917

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (D. Gartlan, Dkyn. (M.M.) H.M.S. Otway. Dec. 1915 - June 1916.); 1914-15 Star (D. Garthan, Dkyn., M.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (Engr. D. Garttan. M.F.A.) note variations in spellings of surname, very fine (4) £500-£700

D.S.M. London Gazette 25 October 1916

Daniel Gartlan was born in 1875 in Birkenhead, Cheshire. He served during the Great War as a Donkeyman (Engineer) with the Mercantile Marine and was decorated for his services in the armed merchant cruiser H.M.S. Otway, during the period December 1915 to June 1916. Otway was a former ocean liner, requisitioned by the Royal Navy and armed with eight 6-in guns and two 6-pdrs. She formed part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron or Northern Patrol which was part of the British ‘distant’ blockade of Germany. The Squadron’s main task was to prevent trade to and from Germany by checking merchant ships and their cargoes. In addition it was to stop German warships, raiders and other German naval ships from leaving the North Sea for the Atlantic Ocean or entering the North Sea from the Atlantic - ‘cruising without lights, intercepting ships night and day in all weathers, boarding them, placing armed guards on board, and conducting them in safety to their various destinations’, this then dangerous work was further complicated by the presence of enemy submarines: thus Otway was sunk by UC-49 off the Hebrides on 23 July 1917 with the loss of 10 lives.

The medal roll states that Gartlan later served as an Engineer in the fleet rescue tug H.M.S. Traveller. His D.S.M is thought to be unique to a Donkeyman for the Great War.