Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte

The Great War D.S.M. awarded to Boatswain D. McK. Shannon, Mercantile Marine, who was specially commended by his ship’s Master after a protracted duel with a U-Boat in which the ship was four times hit by torpedo

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (D. McK. Shannon, Bos’n., M.M., Atlantic Ocean, 25-26 May 1918), edge bruising, nearly very fine £1000-1200

D.S.M. London Gazette 7 August 1918:

‘In recognition of zeal and devotion to duty in carrying on the trade of the country during the War.’

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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David McKay Shannon, who was born in Larne, Ireland in February 1879, was serving aboard the S.S. Rathlin Head at the time of winning his D.S.M. The following details were taken from the minutes of the Mercantile Marine Awards Committee:

‘At 3.45 p.m. [on 25 May 1918], the S.S. Rathlin Head was attacked by two torpedoes from an enemy submarine. The ship was zig-zagging at the time. The weather was fine. The torpedoes struck the ship near the foremost bulk-head of No. 1 hold. At 4 p.m. the ship was attacked by a third torpedo, which passed 100 feet ahead of her. Fire was opened from the Howitzers at the supposed position of the submarine, eight rounds being fired, and the ship’s course altered to port, but the propellers came out of the water and she lost her way.

The enemy was then on her port quarter, No. 6 hold was flooded and in consequence the propellers again took the water at 4.30 p.m. and the ship got under way slowly, doing about three knots to start with, which increased to five or six as her stern settled down. A course was set for Fastnet. She was yawing badly but did not zig-zag. At 5.30 p.m., a submarine was sighted at a distance of seven miles, one point on the port quarter and fire was opened from the 4.7-inch gun.

At 7.25 a.m. on 26 May, the ship was attacked by two torpedoes which exploded in the stokehold and cross bunker. Two rounds from the Howitzers were fired in the direction of the wake of the torpedoes. The ship took a heavy list to port and her engines were rendered useless. She was then left by the crew. Nothing was seen of the submarine at this time.

The U.S.S. McCall arrived within the hour and proceeded to search for the submarine. While doing so she was attacked unsuccessfully by two torpedoes. The rescue tug Cartmell arrived about 9 a.m. The Master, Chief Officer, Chief Engineer and others of the crew then re-boarded the ship and made an inspection. Soon afterwards, the McCall was attacked again by two torpedoes and proceeded to drop depth charges. The rescue tug Flying Spray then arrived and the Rathlin Head was taken in tow. She was beached in safety at Berehaven late on the night of 27 May. Three firemen were killed by the second explosion and one injured. The Master specially recommends David McK. Shannon, the Boatswain for coolness and general conduct during the action.’