WW1 North Sea 1918 Submariners Distinguished Service Medal – Stoker 1st Class G. Langley, Royal Navy

A first world war single DSM awarded to Stoker 1st Class Gilbert Langley, Royal Navy, who was aboard the cruiser Isis on the outbreak of the war, and having volunteered for the Submarine Service in February 1916, then went on to see service out of Harwich aboard the submarine E45 from her commissioning in August 1916 right through to the end of the war, and serving under three separate commanders. Initially erroneously credited with sinking the German submarine UC79 in October 1917, this being eventually disproved the following year when this submarine was actually sunk, she however is now credited with sinking the German submarine UC62 that same month of October 1917, which warship was later discovered to have been torpedoed. 

George V Distinguished Service Medal named to K.22301. G. Langley. Sto. 1Cl. Submarine Service. 1918.

The medals has some contact wear and polishing to the high points. Please see photos.

London Gazette: 21st June 1918 (DSM)

Gilbert Langley was born on 16th May 1891 in Winterbourne, Gloucestershire, and having worked in the mines as a colliery rope man, then joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class (Devonport No.K22301) with Vivid II from 17th April 1914, and on the outbreak of the Great War as aboard the cruiser Isis. In August 1914 with the outbreak of war, Isis was brought out of the reserve and attached to the 11th Cruiser Squadron based on Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland. She was later transferred to the North American and West Indies Station. Langley was aboard Isis when he was advanced to Stoker 1st Class on 15th December 1914. 

Langley then volunteered for transfer to the Submarine Service and was posted to Dolphin from 2nd February 1916, and was then posted to the submarine depot ship Maidstone at Harwich from 18th April 1916, and then saw service aboard the submarine E45 through to the end of the war, being aboard her from her commissioning in August 1916, and as such saw service in the North Sea under the commander’s, Lieutenant Commander G.R.S. Watkins until January 1918 when Lieutenant Commander J.A. Galmes assumed command, and then from August 1918 under Lieutenant R.W. Blacklock. 

It was for his distinguished services aboard E45 in the North Sea during 1918 that Langley was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in the London Gazette for 21st June 1918. Back on 19th October 1917 the British felt that, E 45 had sunk the German submarine UC79, but later they would learn that this U-boat was not lost until 1918. However, on 14th October 1917, the German submarine UC-62 was reported missing with all 30 hands in the North Sea. UC-62 had been responsible for the sinking of 12 ships. She in turn had been torpedoed, and the loss is believed to have been caused by E45, which was assumed to be the most probable cause of the sinking.

Langley was posted off E45 on transfer to the submarine L8 in July 1919, and then saw service aboard her out on the China Station at Hong Kong from September 1919, before being posted home to Dolphin in July 1921. Langley then saw service aboard the submarine K6 from September 1921 through to May 1924 during which period he was rated as an Acting Leading Stoker on 15th January 1924. After service aboard the submarine H30 from May 1924 to July 1925, Langley was posted out of the Submarine Service that same month, but then remained in the service with the surface fleet, and was rated as a Leading Stoker whilst with Vivid II on 15th January 1926. 

Appointed an Acting Stoker Petty Officer whilst aboard the battleship Malaya on 19th May 1927, and was then promoted to Stoker Petty Officer whilst aboard the battleship Queen Elizabeth on 19th May 1928. Langley was then still aboard this ship when he was awarded the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 11th August 1929. Langley was eventually pensioned from service on 16th April 1936. However with the outbreak of the Second World War, he was recalled as a Stoker Petty Officer with the shore base Drake II from 27th November 1940, and then saw service with the shore base Cabot from 27th February 1941.

Regiment: Royal Navy

Era: WW1