A Great War D.S.M. group of five awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class E. Pike, Royal Navy, awarded for service aboard H.M.S. Milne when she rammed and sank the German submarine UC-26

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (270765 C.E.R.A. 2Cl., H.M.S. Milne, 9 May 1917); 1914-15 Star (270765 E.R.A.1, R.N.; British War and Victory Medals (270765 C.E.R.A.1, R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (270765 Ernest Pike, C.E.R.A. 2Cl., H.M.S. Attentive II) mounted as worn, contact marks, nearly very fine (5) £700-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Ron Tuppen Collection of Naval Medals to Engine Room Officers.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 22 June 1917.

Ernest Pike was born in Brixham, Devonshire on 7 September 1881. An Engine Smith by occupation, he entered the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class on 14 September 1902. He was confirmed in that rank in December 1903 when at Vivid; promoted to E.R.A. 3rd Class in September 1905 when at Sapphire II; E.R.A. 2nd Class in May 1909 when on Indus and E.R.A. 1st Class in September 1914 when on the battlecruiser Lion. When on the Lion he served at the battles of Heligoland Bight, 28 August 1914 and Dogger Bank, 23 January 1915. Pike then served on the destroyers Mameluke, February-April 1916; Milne, April 1916-March 1917 and May 1917-May 1919, being appointed Acting C.E.R.A. 2nd Class in February 1916 and C.E.R.A. 2nd Class in February 1917.

In the early morning of 9 May 1917 the German submarine UC-26 was discovered by H.M.S. Milne on the surface to the N.W. of Calais. Failing to complete her dive in time, the submarine was rammed by the destroyer. Badly damaged and sinking, she was finished off by depth charges from H.M. Ships Mentor and Miranda. Only two men of the submarine’s crew survived. For his services in the engine room, producing the flurry of speed which caught the submarine off-guard, Pike was awarded the D.S.M.

Post-war Pike served on the newly completed Hood, May 1921-May 1923 and was promoted to C.E.R.A. 1st Class in February 1922. He was pensioned ashore on 13 September 1924.

With copied service papers and other research.