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Remembered Today:

Gunner Ernest Martin Jehan DSC


themonsstar

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Hi all

Got a good find yesterday :D , 28 Doc's to Gunner/Lt-Commd E.M.Jehan DSC.

He was born 2nd Feb 1878, & joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in 1894. He work his way up to P.O. IC. on bored HMS Vernon? 1905 he was then promoted. In 1910 he was in the crew that took the light cruiser HMCS Rainbow out to Canada, he remained with the Rainbow until posted back to England in 1913. In April 1914 he is on HMS Dryad, this was a one-time torpedo gunboat converted into a minesweeper. From Dryad he was sent to the Inverlyon as the Commanding Officers.

The Inverlyon was Known as His Majesty's Armed Smack Inverlyon. She was a bluff bowed, flush decked two masted fore and aft rigged little fishing ship, a Q-ship a wooden sail-powered fishing boat armed with a 3-pounder gun.

On the 16th Aug 1915 around 8:20 p.m. the Inverlyon was spotted by UB 4 this U-boat was commanded by Lt Karl Gross.

The Inverlyon sank UB-4 with 9 rounds of 3-pounder & a few dozen rounds of small arms ammunition.

Gunner Jehan was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for this action.

In Jan 1916 Jehan was promoted to Lt & posted to HMS Sarpedon as the first Lt (Executive Officer). He commanded HMS PC 55 during 1919-20 and retired with the rank of Lt Commd. He died on the 7th Dec 1929.

Hes Son Ernest Frederick Jehan was in the Royal Signals in 1922, and was in No 3 Coy 1st HQ BEF March 1940. he was evacuated to the UK on bored the Hospital Carrier Worthing from France

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Hi,

Thanks for sharing that, shows the navy promoted on merit. when you put PO IC could that be TC which would mean he was the Coxswain of HMS Vernon.

Regards Charles

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Hi Charles

The Ranks in the RN go over my head, next to the Ship HMS Excellent is list & No 15/223 rating PO, ic, from 17 June 04 to 25 june 04 cause of discharge, Vernon Lt.

What rank is TC & coxswain, & do you have info on him being on HMS Vernon.

Cheers Roy

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PO 1C = Petty Officer 1st Class

Vernon was the torpedo establishment at Portsmouth, Excellent was the gunnery establishment at Portsmouth.

Gunner in the RN is a warrant rank and there were 2 types. Gunner for guns and Gunner (T) for a gunner (torpedo). There was not an electrical branch and torpedo ratings looked after both the torpedoes and the electronics.

Was his promotion in 1905 to gunner? Eleven years from a boy under 16 to warrant rank, in peace time thats a good career path!

In the 'Navy List' there is probably a symbol to show that he had been on a navigation course alowing him to take command of boats, but I'm not sure of the upper limit.

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Hi

Q-ship Inverlyon LT687 93GT, Built 1903, Trawling Smack, 1-3 pounder,

15.8.15 attacked and sank U-boat in North Sea. Sunk by U-boat gunfire

15 miles N. X W. Trevose Head 30.1.17.

Regards

John

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  • 3 months later...
Hi,

Thanks for sharing that, shows the navy promoted on merit. when you put PO IC could that be TC which would mean he was the Coxswain of HMS Vernon.

Regards Charles

Hello ; this from my `gongs' file. Hope it helps. Regards SADSAC / DAF

JEHAN Herbert D N/E Chief Gunner RN 87X474 Iron Duke Admiral of the Fleet J.R. Jellicoe 10.07.19 N/E Post War DSC This officer was recommended in Jutland Despatch of the 22nd August, 1916, (Published by the Admiralty on the 15th September, 1916.)He was promoted to Chief Gunner on the 14th July, 1917, and would have been promoted to Lieutenant for services later, but for the discovery of colour blindness. He is strongly recommended for the D.S.C. for his conspicuous good work during action as discribed on Page 16 of the Supplememnt to the London Gazette of the 15th September, 1916.

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Sadsac,

The gunner commended for his control of Iron Duke's 6" guns at Jutland was Herbert Daniel Jehan:

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

Themonsstar's man is Ernest Martin Jehan. Brothers, perhaps?

Mick

Yes, Mick - but I posted it as `another Tack' ! As you say brother / cousin ??

Sadsac

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If the transcription by The National Archives is accurate, they were possibly twins! Both joined in 1894.

Name Jehan, Herbert Daniel

Official Number: 180904

Place of Birth: Forest Guernsey

Date of Birth: 02 February 1878

Name Jehan, Ernest Martin

Official Number: 178345

Place of Birth: Forest Guernsey

Date of Birth: 02 February 1878

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If the transcription by The National Archives is accurate, they were possibly twins!

Almost certainly. In which case, what are the odds on one being colour-blind and the other not?

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  • 6 months later...

They appear to be born on the same day and both attested at 18 at Portsmouth on the same day and both earned the DSC

However the 1881 census has Herbert D age 5 and Ernest, age 4 sons of Betsey Jehan??? go figure?

London Gazette Entries from (Fringes of the Fleet and the Distinguished Service Cross - by R.C. White)

Page 101.

JEHAN, Ernest Martin, Gnr, RN – LG 19 Nov – 1915

See Swept Channels, pp 82-3 for Jehan’s report on action of Decoy Smack Inverlyon, Gunner Jehan of HMS Dryad, in command. On Aug 16th, 1915 UB-4 (Submarine) was sunk by Inverlyon’s 3 pounder. DSC Award for this action. He was promoted to Lt. 4th Jan 1916, see the Merchant Navy, Vol II, p 46. In HMS Dryad from 4 Apr. 1914 – Navy List Feb 1915. In HMS Victory from 13 Nov. 1917 – Navy Lists Jan 1919.

JEHAN, Herbert Daniel, Ch Gnr RN – LG 10 July 1919

For distinguished service in HMS Iron Duke. Naval Who’s who 1917. He was present at the battle of Jutland 31st May 1916 and noted for early promotion. He was stationed in Iron Duke’s lower top as principle controller officer of the 6-inch guns. These guns repelled two attacks of German TBD’s on our battle fleet and were controlled with coolness and judgement. As a result, one German TBD was seen to sink. LG 15 Sept. 1916. In Iron Duke from 17 Apr 1913 – Navy List Feb 1916. In HMS President for Naval Ordanance Dept. from 15 Dec 1917 – Navy lists Jan 1919. (Decorations, DSC. Medals – China War Medal, clasps Taku Forts and Relief of Pekin, PO2 HMS Alacrity).

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The original Admiralty files relating to their recommendations can be found using the ADM 12 indexes.

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