Five: Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class W. Davison, H.M.S. Widgeon, Royal Navy, who subsequently served in H.M.S. Doon, a destroyer that engaged the German battlecruisers bombarding Hartlepool on 16 December 1914

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Natal (W. Davison. E.R.A., H.M.S. Widgeon) small impressed naming; 1914-15 Star (269719 W. Davison. C.E.R.A.2, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (269719 W. Davison. C.E.R.A.1, R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (269719 William Davison, C.E.R.A. 2Cl., H.M.S. Pembroke) good very fine (5) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Queen’s South Africa Medals to the Royal Navy.

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Approximately 72 Queen’s South Africa Medals with clasp Natal awarded to H.M.S. Widgeon.

William Davison was born in Alnwick, Northumberland, on 24 June 1873, and joined the Royal Navy as an Engine Room Artificer 4th Class on 8 May 1899. Joining H.M.S. Widgeon on 16 June 1900 he served in her during the Boer War. Advanced Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class on 9 November 1912, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 25 May 1914..

Following the outbreak of the Great War Davison was posted to H.M.S. Doon on 7 August 1914, and was present in her when the Germany Imperial Navy bombarded Hartlepool. On the morning of 16 December 1914 the elderly destroyers Doon, Test, Waveney and Moy were on patrol 5 miles N.E. of Hartlepool, when in the mist they encountered the German battlecruisers Seydlitz and Moltke and the heavy cruiser Blücher on their way to bombard the port of Hartlepool. Doon tried to press home a torpedo attack, whilst Test, Waveney and Moy opened fire with their guns. Getting to 5,000 yards, Doon fired one torpedo, which missed. The German cruisers returned fire, gaining hits on Doon and Waveney. Hopelessly outgunned, the four destroyers made a swift escape, with Doon having suffered one man killed and 11 wounded. The German cruisers then went on to bombard Hartlepool. The town was hit by some 1150 shells which resulted in the death of 117 people. On the same day, cruisers Derfflinger, Von der Tann and Kolberg bombarded the North Yorkshire seaside towns of Scarborough and Whitby.

Promoted Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class on 1 November 1917, Davison was finally shore pensioned on 26 July 1921.

Sold with copied service record and medal roll extracts.