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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 433

The superb 'Battle of Jutland H.M.S. Malaya' D.S.M. group of four awarded to Petty Officer A. M. Eagland, Royal Navy, whose services aboard that most heavily engaged of vessels were the culmination of a long and distinguished career

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (215990. A. M. Eagland, P.O. H.M.S. Malaya. 31 May.-1 June. 1916.); 1914-15 Star (215990, A. M. England, P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (215990 A. M. England. P.O. R.N.), note surname spelling on Trio, pitting and contact marks to first, overall contact wear otherwise, very fine (4)

D.S.M. London Gazette 15 September 1916, his service record states:

'For services rendered in action in the North Sea on 31st May - 1st June 1916'.

Arthur Mark Eagland was born at Bethnal Green, London on 5 June 1885 and joined the Royal Navy on 16 July 1901 as Boy Class II.

He served with a number of vessels prior to the Great War including Agincourt, Majestic and Achilles, being promoted Leading Seaman with the latter. He did not join her in reinforcing the defences of the Shetlands Islands in August 1914 but instead went ashore, with the commandment of hostilities finding him at the shore establishment Victory I.

Posted briefly to the dreadnought Zealander with the rank of Petty Officer on 1 September 1915 he returned to shore after only two weeks. Posted again to H.M.S. Malaya on 28 January 1916, he was still with this vessel five months later at the Battle of Jutland. Malaya was commanded by Captain Boyle during the battle, forming part of the 5th Battlecruiser Squadron. Notably as the ship had been paid for by the Federated Malay States, she steamed into battle flying the flag of that nation.

Due to a communications problem the Squadron fell behind the rest of the British forces and as such they engaged later than the rest of the fleet. Their heavy and accurate fire soon turned the tide of the engagement, with heavy hits to Von Der Tann and Moltke.

With the opening of the 'run to the north' Malaya formed part of the British rear-guard and being the last ship in the line she attracted a high weight of fire. Despite this she wasn't hit for some time, finally a shell struck near 'B' turret and several more near 'X' turret and No. 3 Gun. This latter caught a store of cordite which detonated spreading fire throughout the battery. Some of the cordite fell down an ammunition hoist into a store of 6 inch shells, Petty Officer Day and Leading Seaman Watson removed it before the store detonated both being seriously burned in the process both winning the C.G.M. in the process.

Hit below the waterline and with her oil tanks contaminated with seawater Malaya began to slow. Her crew responded quickly to the damage and managed to tease the vessel back up to speed, it is reported that at that time seven German battlecruisers were firing upon her.

Malaya fired 215 15-inch shells and was struck by 7 12-inch shells with 63 men killed and 68 injured. Eagland was one of eight men on Malaya to be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal during the Battle. He remained with the ship for some time, leaving her on 27 May 1917 when he was posted to the shore establishment Victory I.

Eagland saw further service during the last years of the war aboard the destroyers H.M.S. Peyton from 12 October 1917-6 January 1918 and H.M.S. Vectis from 28 August 1918-31 March 1919. Joining the Royal Fleet Reserve on 19 July 1920 he was demobilised on 9 June 1921; sold together with copied London Gazette extracts and service papers.

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Sold for
£2,800

Starting price
£900