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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 171

A fine 'Battle of Jutland' campaign group of four awarded to Carpenter Lieutenant J. W. Dodds, Royal Navy, who served afloat for more than thirty years and had the rare distinction of being decorated by the Russians for his service aboard H.M.S. Canada from 31 May-1 June 1916

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (J. W. Dodds, Skd. Shipwt. H.M.S. Bacchante.); 1914-15 Star (Ch. Carp. J. W. Dodds. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Shpt. Lt. J. W. Dodds. R.N), good very fine (4)

[Russian Order of St. Anne, Medal of Distinction for Foreigners] London Gazette 1 October 1917:

'For Distinguished Service at the Battle of Jutland.'

James William Dodds was born on 24 February 1864 at Portsmouth, Hampshire, the husband of Catherine Dodds of Oakwood House, Dunston-on-Lyne. He enlisted into the Royal Navy on 13 April 1885 and was sent to the flagship of the Admiral-Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard, H.M.S. Asia. Transferred to Bacchante, Reindeer and Pembroke, Dodds was promoted Shipwright on 1 July 1889 aboard the battleship Rupert, before seeing further service aboard the pre-dreadnought battleship Ramillies from 17 October 1893-8 December 1896. He went on to serve at Victory II, being promoted Carpenter's Mate on 27 January 1897 and Acting Carpenter on 24 March 1898, his superiors remarking, 'very zealous and painstaking, recommended for advancement'.

Posted to St. George, Cumberland and Invincible, Dodds was continually praised, Captain Kerr of the latter noting in December 1910:

'Most excellent, zealous & able. The word "can't" does not exist in his vocabulary. Rec'd for promotion.'

Appointed Chief Carpenter aboard the dreadnought battleship Monarch on 24 March 1913, Dodds was pensioned unfit on 8 August 1913 suffering from neurasthenia - associated with lassitude, fatigue, headache and irritability - likely as a result of vertigo which necessitated a spell at the Royal Hospital Haslar, in Gosport. He soon recovered and served with the Royal Naval Reserve from 23 August 1914, being detailed aboard the Chilean Almirante Latorre which was approaching completion of construction at Elswick, Newcastle-upon- Tyne.

Following the outbreak of hostilities in Europe, the British determined to purchase the super-dreadnought Almirante Latorre rather than forcibly seize the ship in the same manner as the Ottoman Resadiye and Sultân Osmân-i-Evvel, two other ships being built for a foreign navy - likely because of the Allies' reliance upon imported ammonium-nitrate from Chile, crucial in the manufacture of munitions. Renamed H.M.S. Canada, Dodds was likely involved in heavy modifications to the ship, including removal of the bridge in favour of two open platforms and the addition of a mast between the two funnels to support a derrick that would service launches (British Battleships of World War One, by R. A. Burt, refers).

Commissioned on 15 August 1915, Canada sailed for Scapa Flow in October 1915 and proceeded to carry out gun trials of her 14-inch main battery off Tor Ness on 15 October 1915. Remaining aboard, Dodds was present aboard Canada at the Battle of Jutland. As part of the 4th Battle Squadron under Vice-Admiral Sturdee, she fired 42 rounds of 14-inch shells and 109 rounds of her secondary 6-inch armament. During the Battle, Canada fired two salvoes at the disabled cruiser Wiesbaden at 1840hrs and fired five more around 1920hrs (Jutland: An Analysis of the Fighting, refers). For his service aboard her, Dodds was recommended for the bestowal of a Russian decoration on 13 June 1917, in compliance with the Commander-in-Chief's communication of 8 June 1917.

Described as 'exceptionally able and hardworking' by Admiral Sir Douglas R. L. Nicholson, Second-in-Command of the 4th Battle Squadron, Dodds was soon thereafter promoted Carpenter Lieutenant. He was placed on the retired list on 30 November 1919 and died at Cosham on 1 March 1937; sold with copied service record.



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Sold for
£700

Starting price
£210