Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The British War Medal awarded to Wireless Operator A. H. Jeffries, Mercantile Marine, who was killed when the R.M.S. Leinster was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-123 off Dublin Bay on 10 October 1918 with the loss of over 500 lives

British War Medal 1914-20 (Arthur H. Jeffries) good very fine £70-£90

Arthur Henry Jeffries was born in Chesterton, Cambridgeshire, in 1891, and after training at the British School of Telegraphy in London qualified as a Marconi Radio operator. He served during the Great War as the radio operator in the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company’s vessels R.M.S. Ulster and R.M.S. Leinster, and was killed when the Leinster was torpedoed by the German submarine U-123 just outside Dublin Bay in the Irish Sea, en route from Dublin to Holyhead, on 10 October 1918 - his last radio message was ‘S.O.S. S.O.S. S.O.S. Torpedoed Torpedoed Torpedoed.’

Two torpedoes struck the ship, the first exploding near the bows where 22 Post Office officials were engaged in sorting the mail. Of these men 21 were killed instantly. The second torpedo penetrated her engine room and killed and injured many persons. The weather was bad, with a very heavy sea; nevertheless an attempt was made to take the steamship in tow. In response to Jeffries’ S.O.S. message a destroyer came on the scene in time to rescue 33 persons, but too late to assist the Leinster, which had foundered in the meantime. At the time of the attack many passengers were lying in their berths owing to the rough sea, and there was much confusion when they rushed on deck. Several of the boats were got out too hurriedly and capsized, and in total over 500 lives were lost, many being service personnel who were returning from leave.

Jeffries’ body was recovered from the sea and he was buried in the family grave at Deansgrange Cemetery, Dublin.

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