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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 677

The 'Dardanelles 1915' D.S.M. awarded to Engine Room Artificer R. R. Patterson, Royal Naval Reserve, late Imperial Yeomanry, who served in the Boer War and later joined the Navy, serving on H.M.S. Majestic'spicket boat in her mission to destroy submarine E15, and survived Majestic being torpedoed and sunk by the enemy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (1614.E.A. R. R. Patterson. E.R.A. R.N.R. H.M.S. Majestic.), one minor edge knock, very fine

D.S.M. London Gazette 16 August 1915.

Randal Rothwell Patterson was born on 31 July 1881 in Greenisland, Carrickfergus, in County Antrim. He went on to be educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, King William's College on the Isle of Man, and at Queen's College Belfast.

Patterson was a 21-year-old student when he attested at Belfast for the Imperial Yeomanry on 9 February 1901. He was quickly posted to South Africa, where he served as a Private in the 60th Company, 17th Battalion under number 26210. Patterson returned home on 19 November 1902 and was discharged at Gosport soon after upon the termination of his limited period of engagement on 25 November.

After his Boer War service Patterson shifted his focus to the seas, completing apprenticeships with shipping companies and earning his chief engineer's certificate. He joined the Irish Lights in 1912 and served as Second Engineer aboard their steamer Alexandra.

With the outbreak of the Great War, Patterson enrolled with the Royal Naval Reserve on 31 December 1914. His first posting was to H.M.S. Majestic, the lead ship of the Majestic-class, as an Engine Artificer on 25 January 1915. Soon afterwards, she was despatched to the Mediterranean to serve in the Dardanelles.

Patterson received his D.S.M. for his participation in the mission to blow up H.M. Submarine E15, which had run aground by the Turkish Fort Dardanos and needed to be destroyed to keep from being salvaged by the enemy. Fire from the fort prevented larger ships from getting in a hit, and as such Majestic and Triumph sent picket boats on what was likely a suicide mission to strike E15 at a closer range. These two boats were manned by volunteers, despite there being 'very little expectation that those who ventured out on this exploit would ever return' (Deeds that Thrill the Empire, refers). The two picket boats sent off late on the night of 18 April and navigated several miles of narrow channel before being spotted and fired upon by the enemy. Majestic's picket boat, commanded by Lieutenant Claud Herbert Godwin, suffered damage from a Turkish gunner but was able to fire a torpedo and score a hit on the British submarine, albeit under the waterline. Triumph's picket boat rescued the men on board her sister ship, which was later sunk by the enemy. All crew members of the boats, including Patterson, received the D.S.M. for their gallant voluntary service.

Majestic continued to serve in the Dardanelles and Patterson was reportedly on board when, on 27 May 1915 off the coast of Cape Helles, she was struck with a torpedo fired from U-21. It took her only nine minutes to capsize, sinking with the loss of 49 men. Patterson, gratefully, was not amongst them and survived this harrowing ordeal.

After the sinking of Majestic Patterson was removed to the mine-sweeper H.M.S. Marigold on 25 July 1915. He then served on Dolphin from 10 October, being rated Chief Engine Room Artificer with her on 1 April 1916, later joining Titania in June. He was advanced Temporary Warrant Officer on 1 August 1917 while serving with Vivid, and his final posting was aboard Ajax from 14 January 1919. Patterson served in the R.N.R. through the remainder of the war until his demobilisation on 20 June 1919.

Following his First World War naval service Patterson returned to the Irish Lights. He rejoined the Alexandra as Chief Engineer and worked in that capacity until his retirement in 1945. He later died at his home on Malahide Road in Dublin on 14 September 1952 and he was interred at Mount Jerome Cemetery in Dublin.

Patterson is further entitled to a Queen's South Africa 1899-1902 Medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902, as well as a 1914-12 Star trio; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£1,100

Starting price
£420