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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 181

The 'Sinking of H.M.S. Contest 1917' D.S.M. group of five awarded to Petty Officer W. J. Burroughs, Royal Navy, who received a rare double-issue L.S. & G.C.

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (182051. W. J. Burroughs. P.O. H.M.S. Contest. 1917); 1914-15 Star (182051, W. J. Burrough P.O., R.N.), note misspelt surname; British War and Victory Medals (182051 W. J. Burroughs. P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (182051. W. J. Burroughs, P.O. 1. Cl. H.M.S. Leander.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (182051. W. J. Burroughs, P.O. H.M.S. Leander.), the first five mounted in two sections, overall good very fine (6)

D.S.M. London Gazette 8 March 1918, the original recommendation states:

'On the occasion of the sinking of the "Contest", this Petty Officer proved himself exceptional when in a tight corner. His coolness set a fine example under most trying circumstances.'

William John Burroughs was born at St. Ives, Cornwall on 15 May 1879 and enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 15 May 1897. He was posted initially to Impregnable and served in various vessels and shore establishments prior to the Great War including, Defiance, Vivid, Flora, Locust.

He was stationed with the latter on the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, while she was part of the Seventh Patrol Flotilla. Transferred to Scapa Flow in November 1914, she undertook patrol duties there for most of the war. Burroughs however was posted away to Contest on 14 August 1917.

While stationed in the Western Approaches, Contest was present for the torpedoing of the trawler City of Lincoln. Going to her assistance the destroyer exposed herself to danger and was in turn torpedoed by U106. As she went down, Burroughs distinguished himself with his cool handling of the situation which saw 35 hands killed in action.

Posted to Wakeful after the sinking he was to remain with her when he joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 15 May 1919. Going ashore in September he was pensioned on 28 October 1919. In the 1939 Register Burroughs is recorded as a Pensioner Clerk employed by the Admiralty and living at Plymouth where he died in January 1955; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£1,000

Starting price
£600