Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte

A rare Great War Mediterranean land operations D.S.M. group of four awarded to Gunner W. G. Stocker, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his part in two raids on Turkish occupied territory around Alexandretta on the Syrian coast in January 1915 - he subsequently died on active service while serving in H.M.S. Cameleon in June 1917

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (220505 W. G. Stocker, P.O., H.M.S. Doris); 1914-15 Star (220505 W. G. Stocker, P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Gnr. W. G. Stocker, R.N.), very fine and better (4) £1800-2200

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.M. London Gazette 10 April 1915:

‘For services rendered whilst attached to a landing party from H.M.S. Doris at Alexandretta on the 6th and 7th January 1915.’

One of just five D.S.Ms awarded for these operations.

Walter George Stocker was born in Devon in October 1885 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in May 1902.

A Petty Officer serving in the cruiser H.M.S. Doris by August 1914, he was originally employed in the 11th Cruiser Squadron in the Home Fleet - Doris captured a German merchantman 24 hours after the outbreak of hostilities. But it was for his subsequent services in the Mediterranean that he was awarded the D.S.M., namely for the above cited operations in January 1915. Blumberg’s Britain’s Sea Soldiers takes up the story:

‘In December, 1914 and January 1915, H.M.S Doris (Captain F. Larken) was operating on the coast of Syria and Asia Minor, with a view to interfering with the Turkish communications, in the event of an advance on Egypt, and this led to constant landings on the coast, for destruction of various points, and means of communication. The following is a short account of the several operations in which the Royal Marines were concerned:

At Ascalon, on 15 December, after firing a a few rounds of six-inch at a tent ashore, Captain Wilkinson, R.M.L.I., and 10 of his detachment with a party of seamen under Lieutenant Twigg, with a machine gun landed to investigate. The party came under fire, but effected their object without casualties. Again on 18 December, at Sidon, the seamen under Commander Brounger, destroyed two miles of telegraph and telephone wire; Captain Wilkinson and 15 R.M.L.I. acting as covering party, the work was carried out without opposition, and at dusk, another Naval party landed to cut the railway.

On 19 December, the Doris commenced the bombardment of the coast road and railway, leading out of Alexandretta to the northward, and then sent in an ultimatum, giving the Turks 18 hours in which to surrender all war material, or the town would be bombarded; two locomotives were ultimately surrendered for destruction.

On 21 December, Commander Brounger, with 39 seamen and Captain Wilkinson, with 24 Royal Marines, landed to demolish the railway bridge, near Dinort Yol station; the landing party came under rifle fire on landing, which was soon silenced by the ship's guns. The advance to the bridge, which was about one mile distant, was unopposed, the party successfully damaged the bridge and returned to their boats, bringing off the telegraph instruments from the station. Although a small party of the enemy was entrenched on the beach, they did not open fire on the boats.

On 5 January, 1915, Commander Brounger, with 100 seamen, and Captain Wilkinson, with 40 R.M.L.I., with a 12-pounder field gun and two machine-guns, were sent in to destroy the railway bridge, which was three miles east of Messina, and two and a half miles inland. The boats left the ship at 3.30a.m., to carry out the work before daylight, but on approaching the shore, they came under the fire of field guns and rifles of the enemy, and were recalled to the ship.

On 6 January, two parties landed west of Alexandretta, one under Captain Wilkinson, the northern party, to cover a railway demolition, and the other to carry out a second demolition, each party consisted of 29 seamen, 5 stokers and 22 Royal Marines. The distance between the parties was about one and a half miles; the landings were unopposed, but the scouts were fired on by a party of Turks, who ran when the ship opened fire. All the demolition work was successfully carried out and the telegraph line was destroyed for some distance.

The Torpedo Lieutenant with 32 seamen, and Captain Wilkinson with eight Royal Marines, landed again on 7 January, four miles north of Alexandretta, to demolish a road bridge. The landing was opposed by snipers, and Corporal Warburton (Portsmouth) was killed; Private Wallace (Portsmouth), was awarded the D.S.M., for assisting to carry the body back to the boat under fire. They re-embarked under fire and were lucky to escape with few casualties; three petty officers [including Stocker] and one stoker were also awarded the D.S.M.

That their operations had effected their object was shown by a report received from General Officer Commanding, Egypt, on 12 January, that the work of the Doris had prevented 40,000 Turks from marching towards the Suez Canal.’

Having then participated in the Dardanelles operations, during which Doris lent support in the Gallipoli landings, Stocker was advanced to Acting Gunner, R.N., in March 1917 and removed to the destroyer Cameleon. And he was similarly employed at the time of his death on 9 June that year. He was buried in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta.