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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 689

'I picked myself up and said "She has got it this time", I then jumped from the top deck down on the Fore deck, and also too Signal Boy Dawson, and worked our way forward. The wreckage began to fall, and I put Signal Boy Dawson on the Deck and covered him, and stuck my head into the bulwarks, she was going down and had a big list. Signal Boy Dawson was knocked away from me to the deck again, but he got throught the sponson, and that was all I saw of him for the time. I stood one the stem head, and took my boots and coat off, and then she sunk under me. I then got in the water, and gave a Lifebelt to the Wireless Telegraphist C.P.O. and one to one of the Trimmers. I found the Lifebelts floating about in the water. I then saw Signal Boy Dawson go under, and I dived for him twice, eventually getting hold of him at the back of the trousers, and brought him to the surface, and out him on an upturned boat.'

(The grim testimony of Engineman Charles John William Bristow, later awarded the Royal Humane Society Silver Medal for his rescue of Signal Boy Dawson during the harrowing sinking of the Queen of the North)

The tragic H.M.S. Queen of the North casualty group of two awarded to Sub-Lieutenant N. E. Wood, Royal Naval Reserve, who died when the paddle steamer stuck a sea mine in the North Sea on 20 July 1917

British War and Victory Medals (S. Lt. N. E. Wood, R.N.R.), minor contact marks, polishing, very fine (2)

Norman Edward Wood was commissioned at Sub-Lieutenant with the Royal Naval Reserve on 19 April 1917 and posted to Ganges for the Axillary Minesweeper H.M.S. Queen of the North. This paddle steamer was stationed with the Harwich Minesweeping Division and along with her three consorts. Two miles from Orford Ness she struck a mine laid by UC-4 on 20 July 1917, the vessel sank within a few minutes. Due to the speed of the destruction only a few lucky crewmen were able to escape the wreck, some with the help of Engineman Charles Bristow who was later awarded to Royal Humane Society Silver Medal for bravery. Wood died in the wreck and is commemorated upon the Chatham Naval Memorial; sold together with typed research as well as copied research comprising a London Gazette extract, Commonwealth War Graves certificate and casualty lists as well as service papers, a copy of the court martial proceedings relating to the loss of H.M.S. Queen of the North and information on the vessel.

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£80

Starting price
£80