A GREAT WAR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL TO PETTY OFFICER KNI...

by Duke's
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£420

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A GREAT WAR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL TO PETTY OFFICER KNIGHT OF HMS GHURKA He was decorated for his participation in the sinking of German Submarine U8.

GV DSM. Correctly impressed. 176903 H E Knight PO HMS Ghurka.

Condition NGVF ( slight edge bruising, which doesn't affect the naming.)
Harry Ernest Knight was born in Kennington, London, on the 21st of October 1878. In civilian life, he worked as a 'Builder's Assistant'. He joined the Royal Navy on the 21st of October 1896, signing on for 12 years initially.

During the Great War, while serving on board HMS Ghurka as a Petty Officer, Knight was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. The award was for his part in sinking U8 on the 4th March 1915 off the coast of Dover. U8 became caught in anti-submarine nets. After an attempt by HMS Viking to use her explosive anti-submarine sweep, which failed, HMS Ghurka successfully detonated hers, forcing U8 to the surface. The German crew quickly surrendered, and the Submarine was scuttled.
From his service papers, it seems that Knight was one of only five survivors from HMS Ghurka. She hit a mine off the coast of Dungeness on the 8th of February and sunk with the loss of 74 of her crew.
He spent the rest of the war onshore establishments and was pensioned to shore on Christmas Day 1919. He quickly joined the Royal Fleet Reserve.
At the time of the 1939 census, Knight lived at 14 Market Place, Ringwood, Hampshire and was an Innkeeper. He passed away aged 72 in 1950.

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Auction Date:
14th May 22 at 11am BST

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Sale Dates:
14th May 2022 11am BST (Lots 1 to 317)