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Auction: 15003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 76

(x) A Scarce Great War 'Submariner's' D.S.M. Group of Three to Leading Seaman H.C. Wright, H.M. Submarine D7, Royal Navy, For His Part in the Sinking of U-45, 12.9.1917D
a) Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (191473. H.C. Wright, LG. Sean. H.M.S. "D7" Atlantic Ocean. 12th Sept. 1917.)
b) Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, one clasp, Natal (H.C. Wright. A.B. H.M.S. Doris), suspension slack
c) 1914-15 Star (191473 H.C. Wright, L.S., R.N.), light contact marks overall, therefore nearly very fine or better (3)

D.S.M. London Gazette 17.11.1917 Ldg. Sea Herbert Charles Wright, ON 191473 (Po.)
'For services in action with enemy submarines.'

191473 Leading Seaman Herbert Charles Wright, D.S.M., born Bray, Berkshire, 1881; joined Royal Navy as Boy 2nd Class, July 1899; service included in H.M.S. Doris, 28.10.1899-15.11.1899; joined the Submarine Branch in 1912, and service during the Great War included at H.M.S. Bonaventure and Titania; served in H.M. Submarine D7, 1916-1919; on the 12th September 1917, 'a patrol submarine north of Ireland achieved a sinking. U-45 (Sittenfeld) had sailed with U-88 and U-54 on the 5th; a week later she was on the surface west of the Shetlands when D-7 sighted her and dived to attack. Twenty minutes later a stern torpedo, fired at 800 yards, struck the U-boat just before the conning tower. One of the two survivors picked up by the British submarine was the radio operator, who had been about to send a message to Wilhelmshaven. He did not have time to do so, and the German command had no idea as to where U-45 was sunk'; Wright was 'Shore Pensioned', July 1921.

D7's commanding officer, Lieutenant O.E. Hallifax, R.N. was awarded the D.S.O. for this action. Another officer was awarded the D.S.C., and Wright was awarded one of two D.S.M.s to the crew for the action.

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£1,200