J C Hayward DSC, trawler skipper RNR

[Guest]

I am researching my Grandfather's service in the Trawler section of the RNR. J C Hayward was 'appointed' Skipper, Royal Naval Reserve on 17th Feb 1915 and I have his certificate of appointment. He was based in Liverpool and Fleetwood for most of the war in his boat LT61 Dick Whittington. He returned to his home port of Lowestoft after the war. Sometime during 1916/17 he was involved in an incident in Liverpool Bay in which his boat captured/sank a German U-boat. For this action, he received the DSC (which we have) and this was announced in the London Gazette for 'Skpr. John Charles Hayward, R.N.R. 218 W.S A.' Can anyone help with:

(1) we have no copy of the citation to go with the medal; are these still available in official records?

(2) where would we get a copy of his Service Record, and what does WSA 218 mean?

(3) any other input would be gratefully received.......thanks

[sadsac]

Hayward, welcome to our `soggy world'. Find here your Gfathers award re sinking of U-boat ;

WSA218 - War Service Authority - this gives him a `right' to be involved in `war-like' actions making him `official combatant' !!! NOT to be shot for being `civilian' !!!

Service Record ?? Other more knowlegable fellows will no doubt supply full info !!!

HAYWARD John C 218WSA Skipper RNR 84S086 H.M.D. Dick Whittington

Rear Admiral & Senior Naval Officer Liverpool 06.04.18 Gazetted

Auxiliary Patrols 01.01.17 - 31.01.17 DSC

He has been in charge of "Dick Whittington" since the 10th August, 1914, up to the present date. During short periods of this time he has been in charge of a section of net drifters and worked indicator nets in a very satisfactory and efficient manner. At present this officer is number three in charge of the Walney Island Patrol, this patrol has been maintained in a very satifactory manner under his supervision.

Regards, & Good Hunting !! Sadsac

[melliget]

Hi.

From The Times, Monday, Apr 23, 1917:

NAVAL HONOURS

AWARDS FOR PATROL AND AIR SERVICES

Supplement To The London Gazette, April 21.

..

MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES.

The following Officers and men have been

mentioned in dispatches by Vice-Admiral

Reginald G. O. Tupper, C.B., C.V.O., for good

service in the Patrol Cruisers:-

.. Sub-Lieut. Charles John

Leonard Hayward, R.N.R.; ..

For his RNR service record, see replies for another recent thread, "AB Robert Kerison, Royal Naval Reserve".

regards,

Martin

Edit: *sigh* - I must be tired. Just noticed this is Charles John Hayward, not John Charles Hayward! Sorry.

[ARABIS]

Welcome to the Forum, haywardr,

Your grandfather was one of 35 officers awarded the DSC with the following citation in the London Gazette:-

"The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to the undermentioned Officers in recognition of their services in vessels of the Auxiliary Patrol between 1st January and 31st December 1917".

LG 6.4.1918 pages 4259/60.

The few Navy Lists I have give him as being a Skipper RNR with "Dick Whittington" from 10/8/14 until December 1918. However, Lieutenant [acting] Ernest Moore RNR is listed as being in command from 28/10/14 until at least September 1915. The November 1916 Navy list has your grandfather only listed against her.

218 WSA was his service number.

Regards,

David.

[per ardua per mare per terram]

(1) we have no copy of the citation to go with the medal; are these still available in official records?

(2) where would we get a copy of his Service Record, and what does WSA 218 mean?

(3) any other input would be gratefully received.......thanks

Welcome to the forum

1) Not only the citation, but also the file with the original recommendation is probably available. It takes some digging and using the ADM 12 indexes and then cross referencing to the UK National Archives reference. This involves using heavy original documents and can only be done at Kew, here's a link to their research guide:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalog...?sLeafletID=380

2) WSA was the RNR prefix for skippers in the Trawler Reserve.