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Auction: 6017 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 142

A Great War ´Cruiser´ D.S.M. Group of Five to Chief Petty Officer T.L. Trace, Royal Navy Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st ´Admiral´s bust´ type (179663. T.L. Trace, P.O. 1 Cl. "Highflyer" Services During War.); 1914-15 Star (179663, T.L. Trace, P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (179663 T.L. Trace. Act. C.P.O. R.N.); Naval Long Service & G.C., G.V.R., 1st ´Admiral´s bust´ type (179663 T.L. Trace, P.O. 1 Cl, H.M.S. Vivid.), edge bruise to last, otherwise good very fine (5) Estimate £ 800-900D.S.M. London Gazette 11.8.1919 P.O., 1st Cl, Thomas Lucas Trace, ON 179666 (Dev.) Chief Petty Officer Thomas Lucas Trace, D.S.M., born Donegal, Ireland, 1878; joined as Boy 2nd Class Royal Navy, 1894; posted at H.M.S. Ganges, 1894-95; Able Seaman 1897; Leading Seaman 1904; Petty Officer 1st Class 1907; posted to H.M.S. Vivid I (signals shore establishment) 1911 and later in 1917; saw most of his service during the Great War in H.M.S. Highflyer (2nd Class Cruiser), with which he served 29.8.1913-21.4.1917; during this period she was part of 9th Cruiser Squadron and with H.M.S. Vindictive captured and escorted the Dutch liner Tubantia laden with German gold and reservists (4.8.1914); she also sank the German commerce Destroyer Kaiser Wilhelm (26.8.1914), in Spanish waters off the Sahara coast; Captain Buller of the Highflyer demanded the surrender of the lighter armed vessel, only to receive in reply, ´German warships do not surrender. I request you to observe Spanish neutrality´............ There was a second refusal, and after giving her an hour and a half to strike or put to sea, during which the tenders made off and the Highflyer manoeuvred to get a range clear of the land, Captain Buller at 3.10pm fired a challenging shot. The German at once opened fire, the Highflyer replied, and the unequal action began [the Highflyer had eleven 6" guns and eight 12 pdrs to the Kaiser Wilhelm´s six 4" guns]. For an hour and a half it lasted briskly, but at 4.45 the Kaiser Wilhelm ceased fire and boats were seen to be leaving her. To save further bloodshed, Captain Buller signalled her to haul down her flag and sent off boats under the Red Cross with medical assistance. But before they could reach the battered ship she went down in shallow water." (Naval Operations Vol. I., Corbett, refers); the Highflyer suffered 1 man killed and 5 wounded; Chief Petty Officer 1919.

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£1,000