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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 611

(x) Three; Stoker 1st Class D. A. Foster, Royal Navy who was serving on the submarine K6 during the 'Battle of May Island' when K6 was involved in the disastrous accident with K4

1914-15 Star (K15771 D. A. Foster Sto.1. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (K15771 D. A. Foster Sto.1. R.N.), very fine (3)

Dudley Arthur Foster was born at Reading on 19 November 1892 and joined the Royal Navy on 14 August 1912 and was aboard Cochrane from 14 August 1913, in which vessel he was serving when the Great War broke out.

He was posted to Dolphin, for service in submarines on 1 December 1916, and subsequently to the submarine depot ship, Fearless, for service in H.M. Submarine K6 on 3 February 1917 until 1 July 1918.

K6 was a British K class submarine built by HM Dockyard, Devonport. She was laid down on 8 November 1915 and commissioned in May 1917. K6 was the first of the K class to have its bows raised by converting it into a bulbous swan shape.

The Battle of May Island is the name given to the series of accidents that occurred during Operation E.C.1 in 1918. Named after the Isle of May, an island in the Firth of Forth, close by, it was a disastrous series of accidents amongst Royal Navy ships on their way from Rosyth in Scotland to fleet exercises in the North Sea. On the misty night of 31 January-1 February 1918, five collisions occurred between eight vessels. K6 was responsible for ramming K4 and slicing her in half. The whole incident at the Isle of May lasted just 75 minutes. In that time, two submarines had sunk, three had been badly damaged, the Fearless was damaged and 105 men had been killed. A hastily convened inquiry was formed on 5 February 1918 to ascertain exactly what went wrong at May Island.

Foster was shore demobilised on 13 June 1921, he later emigrated to Western Australia and died there on 2 May 1982.



Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£80

Starting price
£40