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Auction: 11007 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 25

A Great War 1916 ´Jutland´ D.S.M. Group of Five to Petty Officer P.F. Knapman, H.M.S. Castor, Royal Navy a) Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st ´Admiral´s bust´ type (J.17156. P.F. Knapman, A.B. H.M.S. Castor. 31. May-1. June 1916.) b) 1914-15 Star (J.17156. P.F. Knapman, A.B., R.N.) c) British War and Victory Medals (J.17156 P.F. Knapman, L.S. R.N.) d) Naval Long Service & G.C., G.V.R., 1st ´Admiral´s bust´ type, non-swivel suspension (J.17156 P.F. Knapman. P.O. H.M.S. Emperor of India), worn, therefore good fine or better, with a copy of H.M.S. Castor, Grand Fleet Destroyer Flotillas, 1915-1918, Souvenir of a War Commission, in which the recipient´s award is listed (lot) Estimate £ 1,000-1,200 D.S.M. London Gazette 15.9.1916 Able Seaman Percy Frederick Knapman, ON J.17156 ´For services rendered by Petty Officers and Men of the Grand Fleet in action in the North Sea on the 31st May-1st June, 1916.´ J.17156 Petty Officer Percy Frederick Knapman, D.S.M., born Bow, London, 1896; joined Royal Navy as Boy 2nd Class, June 1914; served as Ordinary Seaman in H.M.S. King George V, May-June 1914; at the outbreak of the Great War Knapman was serving in H.M.S. Audacious (Battleship) as part of the 2nd Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet; she was sunk by a German mine off the coast of Donegal, 27.10.1914; his next posting was to H.M.S. Excellent (Shore Establishment), prior to his next operational posting in H.M.S. Castor (light cruiser), 12.11.1915; he served the remainder of the war with the latter, including at the Battle of Jutland where she was the flagship of the 11th Destroyer Squadron, ´at about 10pm three dark shapes suddenly came into view on our starboard side, steering a course converging at two points on our own. For a few moments we seemed mutually uncertain of each other. We challenged, they replied, but not to our entire satisfaction, so for the reasons before stated the challenge was repeated. Their reply was to switch on their searchlights, and after sweeping for a moment, turn them full on the Castor. Then Hell broke loose. We opened fire simultaneously on each other with all guns at a range of about 2000 yards. Castor was hit almost at once, and the wireless aerials put out of action; moreover, blinded as we were by the rays of the searchlights, the flashes of our own guns, and the bursting shells of the enemy, it was a matter of impossibility to make any signals to destroyers. A heavy shell striking the starboard side forward burst inside the ship, killing or wounding nearly everyone in the vicinity. A six-inch shell hit the Commodore´s barge, blowing it to flinders and starting a fire on the booms; another burst on the port side of the fore bridge, converting it into a shambles, and blowing a great hole in the deck through which living and dead fell on to the deck below. A salvo burst on the water short of the ship, laying out most of a four-inch guns´ crew, and deluging the ship in flying splinters. Boats falls were shot away, funnels and boats riddled, and much minor damage done. The cries of the wounded and dying, the crash of riven stell, the smell of burning wood and worse, and dominating all the roar of the guns, made a tout ensemble which none who experienced those few minutes will ever forget. Officers and men stood their ground with admirable pluck and coolness. Meanwhile we had not been idle, and were blazing away with every gun that would bear at the leading Hun, firing a torpedo at the second ship..... Three to one at 2000 yards under modern gunnery conditions is not a pleasant business, but there is every reason to believe that we gave more than we got, and indirectly accounted for the German light cruiser Elbing´ (Publication included with lot refers); the Castor also accounted for a German torpedo boat destroyer during the battle; Knapman was awarded 1 of 2 D.S.M.s given to Castor for Jutland. For the medals awarded to Chief Engineer Officer D.P. Knapman, the son of Petty Officer P.F. Knapman, D.S.M., see Lot 241.

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