Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Stoker First Class W. J. Dine, Royal Navy, who survived the sinking of H.M.S. Penarth, when she struck a mine whilst on post war minesweeping duties in the North Sea in February 1919, in which an officer was awarded an Albert Medal for saving the life of a wounded Stoker

1914-15 Star (305440 W. J. Dine, Sto. 1, R.N.; British War and Victory Medals (305440 W. J. Dine. Sto. 1 R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (305440. W. J. Dine, Sto. 1Cl. H.M.S. Penarth.) very fine (4) £100-£140

Walter James Dine was born in Spilsby, Lincolnshire on 26 November 1884. A postman, he enlisted in the Royal Navy on 3 November 1903, and was serving in H.M.A.S. Australia when she was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in June 1913. Before her maiden voyage, her Captain was knighted by H.M. the King, reputedly the first such occasion that a naval officer was knighted onboard his ship since Sir Francis Drake on the Golden Hind, by Queen Elizabeth I in 1581.

Post-War, Dine served as a crew-member in H.M.S. Penarth, a converted minesweeper, and survived its sinking in the North Sea, off the Yorkshire Coast on 4 February 1919. Two Officers and 33 Crew were lost, with a further two crew succumbing to their wounds afterwards. For his bravery in rescuing a wounded Stoker, trapped in a Stokehold, Lieutenant David Wainwright was awarded the Albert Medal:
‘On the 4th February, 1919, H.M.S. Penarth struck a mine and immediately began to sink. Lieutenant David Wainwright, taking command of the situation, at once superintended the manning and lowering of the starboard gig, and later the launching of the Carley floats. Hearing there was a stoker injured in one of the stokeholds, he called for volunteers to show him the way, and at once made his way forward. There was by now a heavy list on the ship, and it was apparent she would not remain afloat much longer, the upper deck on the starboard side being already awash. Lieutenant Wainwright made his way below unaided, and while he was in the stokehold the ship struck a second mine abaft of him. The forepart was blown off and sank, and he was forced to wait till the stokehold had filled before he could float to the surface up the escape. He displayed the greatest gallantry and disregard of his own personal safety in going below at a time when the ship was liable to sink at any moment.’

Dine was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (whilst still borne on the books of Penarth) on 28 February 1919. Demobbed to shore on 15 May 1919, he transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve the following day. He was invalided from the service from R.N. Hospital Haslar on 8 November 1921.