Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte

The Great War D.S.C. group of seven awarded to Commissioned Gunner C. J. Pounds, Royal Navy, who was present in destroyers at Heligoland Bight, Dogger Bank and Jutland, and at the destruction of two U-Boats - both of them by ramming

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1917; 1914-15 Star (Gnr. C. J. Pounds R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Gnr. C. J. Pounds, R.N.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Royal Victorian Medal, E.VII.R., bronze; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (170008 C. J. Pounds, P.O., H.M.S. Excellent), the third with officially re-impressed naming, generally good very fine (7) £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte.

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D.S.C. London Gazette 8 March 1918:

‘For services in Destroyers and Torpedo Boat Flotillas during the period ending 31 December 1917.’

Charles James Pounds was born in Portsea, Hampshire in July 1877 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in July 1895. Advanced to Petty Officer 1st Class in July 1903, he was awarded the R.V.M. for services in Excellent’s contingent at H.M’s funeral in 1910, in addition to his L.S. & G.C. Medal in August of the same year.

A Gunner (T.) in the destroyer Ariel by the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he quickly saw action at Heligoland Bight on the 28th, on which occasion his ship was seriously straddled by the Mainz and, but for the timely arrival of Goodenough’s cruisers, may well have become an early loss. Having then seen further action at Dogger Bank on 24 January 1915, the Ariel claimed the U-12 off Fife Ness on 10 March by ramming her amidships - ‘Fire was at once opened and the crew of the stricken U-Boat tumbled out of the conning-tower hatch, ten of them being rescued before she finally sank’ - and added “Jutland” to her battle honours in the following year.

Pounds removed to another destroyer, the Oracle, in September 1916, and was still aboard her when she rammed and sank the U-44 off Norway on 12 August 1917:

‘Nothing happened until after daylight next morning, when, at 6 a.m., the Oracle’s officer of the watch, Lieutenant Claude Butlin, sighted a strange ship far away on the horizon, which was reported to the captain. Shortly afterwards the vessel was seen by others on the Oracle’s bridge. She had a sail hoisted, and was thought to be a trawler.

A few minutes later, Butlin, still peering through his glasses, saw a bow and stern rise out of the sea on either side of the sail. He at once realised the stranger was a submarine, and the Oracle increased to full speed and dashed towards her ... The Oracle steered straight for her, opening fire with her foremost 4-inch gun.

At 6.17 the destroyer’s sharp stem crashed into the submarine midway between the conning-tower and the stern at a speed of 27 knots. The Oracle’s bows were badly damaged from her waterline downwards. The bows of the U-44 appeared for a moment at an angle of 45 degress, and then vanished for ever in a depth of 137 fathoms.

For this exploit Lieutenant-Commander Tippet was awarded the D.S.O., and Lieutenant Butlin the D.S.C. Nine of the Oracle’s men were also decorated or mentioned in despatches’ (Endless Story refers).

As verified by Pounds’ service record, he was among those to win a “mention” (London Gazette 17 November 1917 refers), for he ‘showed marked ability, zeal and good organisation in clearing and shoring-up the forward magazine and shell-room’ of the damaged Oracle.

Removing to the Ursula in mid-September 1917, he was awarded the D.S.C. at the end of the year, and ended the War aboard the Windsor. Confirmed in the rank of Commissioned Gunner in Octpober 1920, Pounds was placed on the Retired List in the rank of Lieutenant in July 1927 and died in May 1941.