The John Chidzey Collection

A Great War anti-U-boat operations D.S.M. group of eight awarded to Petty Officer Cook W. E. Seagle, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (M. 1981 W. E. Seagle, Ldg. Cks. Mte., “Onslow”, English Channel, 25 Feb. 1918); 1914-15 Star (M. 1981 W. E. Seagle, L. Ck. Mte., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M. 1981 W. E. Seagle, L. Ck. Mte., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (M. 1981 W. E. Seagle, L. Ck., H.M.S. Lowestoft), the earlier awards with contact marks and polished, thus good fine, the remainder extremely fine (8) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The John Chidzey Collection.

View
Collection

D.S.M. London Gazette 14 September 1918:

‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’

William Edward Seagle entered the Royal Navy as a Cook’s Mate in May 1910 and was serving aboard the cruiser H.M.S. Juno on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914. Remaining similarly employed until coming ashore in May 1917, he was present in operations against the Tangistani at Bushire in the Persian Gulf in July-August 1915, and was advanced to Leading Cook in the same period.

Returning to sea with an appointment in the destroyer Onslow in October 1917, Speagle was awarded his D.S.M. for an action fought in the Channel on 25 February 1918, as referred to in Keble Chatterton’s history, Beating The U-Boats:

‘At 5 p.m. H.M. Destroyer Onslow was escorting a convoy at the western end of the English Channel when a torpedo was fired at her but it passed underneath. After steaming at 20 knots for just over 20 seconds up the torpedo’s track, five depth-charges were dropped. Up came a submarine’s bows very slowly and vertically. She then list over to port and sank. Other depth-charges were dropped by four more craft and it was finally reckoned that UB-17 had gone to join the majority.’

Post-war, Speagle enjoyed periods of the attachment to the R.A.N. and N.Z.N., was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in April 1925, and was advanced to Petty Officer Cook in December 1926; sold with his 1939-45 War Admiralty campaign medal forwarding slip.