The superb Great War Atlantic Ocean Gordon Campbell’s “Mystery Ships” double Victoria Cross action, Pargust sinking of the UC.29 7 June 1917 V.C. Ballot participant and loss of the Dunraven triple gallantry group awarded to Wireman 1st Class S. Woodison, D.S.M., Royal Navy. From Windsor, Ontario, Canada, he served throughout the war in ‘Q’ ships under Captain Gordon Campbell. In the space of less than two years whilst aboard Loderer (later renamed Farnborough and Q.5) and then ultimately the famous Pargust and Dunraven, he would witness the destruction of three U-boats in actions which would be rewarded with no less than 5 Victoria Crosses, 7 Distinguished Service Orders, 13 Distinguished Service Crosses, 7 Conspicuous Gallantry Medals, 45 Distinguished Service Medals, and numerous Mentions in Despatches. It was for the sinking of the U-83 on 17 February 1917 whilst under Campbell whilst aboard Q.5 that Woodison won his first award, a Mention in Despatches. Q.5 was herself badly damaged by torpedoes and had to be beached, and Campbell was awarded the Victoria Cross. Woodison himself participated in the double Victoria Cross winning ballot for the action of Pargust against the UC.29 on 7 June 1917, and in his records it states ‘Noted for War Services: Action with Enemy Submarine 7 June 1917,’ and also ‘Participated in ballot for award of the V.C. to one of the Ship’s Coy. of H.M.S. Pargust, June 1917.’ The Victoria Cross was awarded to Lieutenant C. G. Bonner and Petty Officer Ernest Pitcher for this action. It was however for the most famous of the Q-Ship actions, the loss of Campbell’s Dunraven on 8 August 1917 when engaged against the UC.71, that he won the Distinguished Service Medal, as gazetted to him in November 1918. This award was specifically for this action but also took into consideration that he had ‘served in all five actions of H.M.S. Dunraven with Captain Campbell’.
Group of 5: Distinguished Service Medal, GVR Adm. bust; (M.15547. S. WOODISON, WIREN. ATLANTIC OCEAN. 8. AUG 1917.); 1914-1915 Star; (M.15547, S. WOODISON, AR. CR., R.N.); British War Medal and Victory Medal with Mention in Despatches Oakleaf; (M.15547. S. WOODISON. WMN.1. R.N.); France - Third Republic: Croix de Guerre 1914-1918,, reverse dated 1914-1917, with Bronze Palme on ribbon.
Condition: Good Very Fine.
Together with an original Canadian news cutting with portrait of the recipient in uniform with cap badge of H.M.S. Vivid, and containing details of his war service.
Stanley Woodison was born on 22 August 1887 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. An electrician (wireman) by trade, owing to the Great War, he volunteered for the Royal Navy on 6 October 1915, for the duration of the hostilities, and served throughout the war in ‘Q’ ships under Captain Gordon Campbell. In the space of less than two years he would witness the destruction of three U-boats in actions which would be rewarded with no less than 5 Victoria Crosses, 7 Distinguished Service Orders, 13 Distinguished Service Crosses, 7 Conspicuous Gallantry Medals, 45 Distinguished Service Medals, and numerous Mentions in Despatches.
Woodison joined the Q-Ship Loderer (later renamed Farnborough and then Q.5) on 5 November 1915, she being commanded by Gordon Campbell. On 22 March 1916, Farnborough enjoyed her first success with the sinking of the U-68, bringing promotion to Commander for Campbell, and winning him the first of his three Distinguished Service Orders. With her name changed to H.M.S. Q.5, she next sank the U-83 on 17 February 1917, but was herself badly damaged by torpedoes and had to be beached. Campbell was awarded the Victoria Cross for this action, and many crew members received decorations or mentions, including Woodison, who was awarded a Mention in Despatches, the award being announced in the London Gazette for 23 March 1917.
Campbell’s next ship was the Pargust, which Woodison joined on 8 May 1917, and took part in the sinking of the UC.29 on 7 June 1917. Woodison’s service record is annotated: ‘Noted for War Services: Action with Enemy Submarine 7 June 1917,’ and also ‘Participated in ballot for award of the V.C. to one of the Ship’s Coy. of H.M.S. Pargust, June 1917.’ Clearly, he was not the man chosen in the ballot, this honour instead going to Seaman William Williams, whilst the officers voted Lieutenant R. N. Stuart, D.S.O., for the ultimate award. Pargust had been badly damaged in the action and repairs were going to take a long time to effect. Campbell therefore requested a new ship, which he got in the name of H.M.S. Dunraven.
The action of Dunraven with the UC.71 on 8 August 1917 is one of the most famous Q-Ship actions of the war. It was a heroic three-hour gun and torpedo action in which the Dunraven was repeatedly hit by shells, refusing to return fire until the submarine came within range. With the poop heavily on fire as the submarine slowly approached Dunraven, Campbell had to make an agonising decision not to evacuate the gun’s crew, thereby exposing their intentions to the enemy, in the full knowledge that the magazine would certainly explode. As the submarine passed Dunraven’s stern, a matter of seconds before it would be in range of the guns, the inevitable happened. A terrific explosion occurred, the stern of the ship was blown out, and the four-inch gun and crew were blown into the air. The gun’s crew were all wounded but luckily none were killed, although one man later did later succumb to his wounds. The enemy was very wary and, having scored a hit with a torpedo, broke off the action when a torpedo was fired at her by the Dunraven. Despite being taken in tow and valiant action by the crew to save their ship, Dunraven sank at 0130 on 9 August 1917, the officers and crew being taken off by H.M.S. Christopher. This was to be Captain Campbell's last Q-Ship action; the Admiralty retired him to a shore posting at Holyhead. As for his crew, Campbell himself said of them ‘Not a man failed, not a man could have done more.’ Dunraven’s action brought numerous awards including Victoria Crosses for Lieutenant C. G. Bonner and Petty Officer Ernest Pitcher, and the Distinguished Service Medal for Stanley Woodison.
Woodison’s award of the Distinguished Service Medal was published in the London Gazette for 2 November 1917, with the citation raading ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’ The recommendation states: ‘Action of H.M.S. Dunraven with German submarine UC71 on 8 August 1917. Has served in all five actions of H.M.S. Dunraven with Captain Campbell.’
In addition to this, Woodson was awarded the French Croix de Guerre, this being published in the London Gazette for 19 December 1917.
In the aftermath of the loss of Dunraven, Woodison had found himself posted to Vivid II from 19 August 1917, and to the destroyer depot ship Blake from 5 January 1918, and having spent the rest of the war with her, was posted to Vivid II from 18 February 1919 and demobilised ashore on 27 March 1919. After the war, Woodison retuned to Windsor, Ontario. In a post-war newspaper article, it read that: ‘Stanley A. Woodison, D.S.M. Of 422 Karl Place, who served under Admiral Gordon Campbell, V.C., D.S.O., aboard the famous “mystery ships” or Q-boats during the Great War, and who was himself decorated for bravery in action. He holds the Distinguished Service Medal, 1914-15 Star, British General Service Medal, Allied Victory Medal. and French Croix de Guerre with palm. In addition, he prizes two certificates from His Majesty King George V., complimenting him on his bravery.’
