A Collection of Medals The Property of a Gentleman

A rare Great War M.S.M. group of six awarded to Chief Yeoman of the Signals T. G. Stevens, Royal Navy, also the winner of a “mention” and Roumanian decoration for his services in the destroyer Garry 1917-18: commanded by Lieutenant C. H. Lightoller of Titanic fame, the Garry engaged and rammed the UB-110 in spectacular fashion in July 1918

1914-15 Star (J. 4001 T. G. Stevens, L. Sig., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (J. 4001 T. G. Stevens, L. Sig., R.N.); Royal Navy Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (J. 4001 Ldg. Sig. T. G. Stevens, “Garry”, Services During War); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (J. 4001 T. G. Stevens, Y.S., H.M.S. Dragon); Roumania, Distinguished Conduct Medal, 2nd class, with swords, contact marks and polished overall, thus generally good fine or better (6) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals The Property of a Gentleman.

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Thomas George Stevens was born in East Ham, London in May 1893 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in March 1909.

A Leading Signalman aboard the destroyer H.M.S. Lapwing by the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he remained similarly employed until coming ashore to the R.N. Barracks at Chatham in December 1915, in which period he was present in actions of Heligoland Bight and Dogger Bank. Early in the new year, Stevens joined the torpedo boat destroyer T.B. 19, in which ship he served until undertaking a second commission in the Lapwing from April to June 1916, and thence joining another destroyer, the Negro, aboard which he was still serving when she was lost in a collision with the Hoste during bad weather in the North Sea in December of that year. Having then been quartered ashore at Chatham, he joined the destroyer Garry in March 1917, in which appointment he remained actively employed until the War’s end, being mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 17 January 1919, refers), awarded the M.S.M. (London Gazette 21 June 1919, refers), and his Roumanian decoration (London Gazette 17 March 1919, refers).

In this period, Garry, commanded by Lieutenant C. H. Lightoller of Titanic fame, accounted for the UB-110 in spectacular fashion, following up an accurate depth-charge and gunnery attack by ramming at speed, an incident vividly described in Lights, by Patrick Stenson:

‘On impact the Garry’s bows lifted high into the air; inside the U-Boat it was mayhem as it went right over on its beam ends and men were thrown in all directions. At first Furbringer thought it was going to capsize but slowly it righted itself. Lightoller was certain that victory was now his, but he had a ruthless compulsion to crush out of existence this vile beast that had been the cause of so much death and suffering on the seas. The U-boat was severely smashed up, as were Garry’s bows, which were badly buckled and torn. She too was now in trouble but her commander was far too absorbed by his lust for the final kill to be distracted from his mission. “Hard a-port!” he barked to Gillespie as he prepared to ram again.

Furbringer realised that the commander of this destroyer was intent on giving no quarter. He had no choice left to him. “Abandon ship!” he called out, telling Oberleutnant Lobell, his No. 1, to open the conning-tower hatch ... UB-110 was now listing 15 degrees to port because the diving tanks had been ripped open in the collision. Furbringer peered over the top of the conning tower and for a moment felt like a spectator in some bizarre theatre. All round him there was turmoil with destroyers, numerous other vessels and planes too, blasting away at his ship. His friend Lobell was hit in the leg by a shell splinter but he could manage. He would have to. It was now every man for himself. Garry raced in again and Lightoller could now see men emerging from the conning tower of the U-boat, running forward and diving overboard. Her guns continued to blaze away killing some as they dashed for the sea. Furbringer remained crouched in the conning tower watching the destroyer heading for him a second time. He left it to the very last and then, just as the crash was about to come, without waiting to see the last of his men out of the boat, dived into the sea. Garry ploughed once more into the U-boat, striking it amidships, smashing open the conning tower and pushing the boat over on its beam ends as before. Men were still inside trying to get out but many never would. Furbringer hit the water and in the same instant saw one of his stokers leap to a ladder up the side of the destroyer and try to climb to the deck rail. He was met by a petty officer who smashed his clinging hands with the butt of a revolver making him cry out and fall back into the water.

UB-110 had received its death blow and in less than a minute sank to the bottom of the North Sea. Garry too was critically wounded as she lay still in the sea, stunned by the violent shocks she had received to her system, while men from the U-boat swam around waiting to be picked up. But to their dismay the opposite happened. Onto Garry’s deck came stokers carrying great lumps of coal which they started throwing down at the men floundering in the water and shouting: “This is for the Lusitania!”. Furbringer saw his young batman hit on the head and drift away unconscious before he could reach him, then he heard the sound of gunfire open up again ... ’

Lightoller, who skilfully nursed the crippled Garry back to the Humber, was awarded a Bar to his D.S.C.

Stevens was advanced to Yeoman of the Signals in May 1921, awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in July 1926, and was serving as a recently promoted Chief Yeoman of the Signals in the cruiser Dragon at the end of the decade; sold with research.