Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte

The Kronstadt Harbour raid D.S.O. group of three awarded to Engineer Lieutenant-Commander F. B. Yates, Royal Navy, the senior officer aboard Coastal Motor Boat 86

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; British War and Victory Medals (Eng. Lt. Cr. F. B. Yates, R.N.), these two mounted as worn, generally good very fine (3) £6000-7000

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.O. London Gazette 11 November 1919:
‘For distinguished services on the occasion of the attack on Kronstadt Harbour on 18 August 1919.’

‘A report has been received from the British Senior Naval Officer in the Baltic that a naval engagement took place in the Gulf of Finland early on 18 August 1919. Two Russian battleships, the Petropavlosk, the Andrei Perosvanni and one destroyer were sunk. A cruiser was also seriously damaged. The British losses were three Coastal Motor Boats’ (Admiralty Statement, 19 August 1919, refers).

Francis Betrand Yates, in his capacity as a Coastal Motor Boat engine specialist, was aboard C.M.B. 86 in the famous Kronstadt raid. Skippered by Sub. Lieutenant F. W. Howard, R.N.R., with Sub. Lieutenant R. L. Wight, R.N., as his second in command, 86 was ordered to attack the 15,000-ton armoured cruiser Rurik, but the “big end” of their boat seized up at 20 knots, just as they were passing the chain of harbour forts. As a result, Yates, Howard and Wright found themselves drifting helplessly below the enemy’s batteries for the duration of the raid - yet, as related by Agar, V.C., ‘she [86] was snatched from death by 72, who was able to pass a line and tow her safely back to Bjorko.’

Yates was awarded the D.S.O., Howard and Wight D.S.Cs, and fellow C.M.B. raiders Dobson and Steele the Victoria Cross.