Identification of 1914 Star

[Mark2o]

My query today is into a 1914 Star that is named to a D. McCormick, B-5020, Sea, R.N.R, Collingwood Bttn., R.N.D.

Is there by chance anyone that may have information on this gentleman? I seem to remember that the "Collingwood" was directly involved during the Battle of Jutland.

Thanks in advance,

Mark

[Yorts]

Hi,

The naval (as opposed to marine) battalions of the RND were named after Admirals, hence Hawke, Hood, Collingwood etc. Thus this unit has nothing to do with naval vessels which share the same name.

The man in question served at Antwerp and when the RND withdrew was part of the force which entered Holland and was consequently interned. His star was sent on the 20/11/19 and should have a bar to it. He was lucky to receive it as he is also recorded as having destered 2/10/17 but the award must subsequently have been restored.

Rgds,

Alex.

[Mark2o]

Alex,

I thank you for correcting my ignorance and also for the information provided. It is interesting that he deserted and later obtain his medal which by the way I have not been able to find his MIC to see what he was entitled to.

Mark

[michaeldr]

Mark & Alex,

Fevyer & Wilson have this man’s surname as McCormack [not McCormick]

Which is correct?

The notation that he ‘ran’ is interesting. The Collingwood’s roll has two other examples of Internees who ran and in both cases their medals were returned to the Royal Mint March 1934, a possible explanation for which would be that the men’s entitlement was forfeit.

However this is not the case with the man here; medal issued 20 Nov ’19 & clasp issued 18 Oct ’20. One possible explanation could be that he escaped internment but then rejoined the Navy.

J. H. Bentham in his ‘A Young Officers Diary’ describes his escape from internment, his passage to England and subsequent commission. He tells how on reaching Harwich

“A signal was sent to HMS Maidstone lying there to the effect that there were two escaped sailors from Holland on board. A picket boat was sent over for us and after bidding Captain Barton and the crew goodbye, we found ourselves under armed escort and conveyed to the Maidstone for technically we were deserters from the time of leaving Groningen….”

So an escapee from Dutch internment was technically a ‘runner’

I thought that a cross check with Bentham’s roll entry may have provided helpful guidance here, however that is not so; it neither mentions that he was an internee nor that he ran.

It seems that only sight of this particular sailor’s record will provide clarification on this point.

[bentham’s diary is at the Liddle Collection, Brotherton Library, Leeds University, and was reproduced by Len Sellers in his magazine ‘RND’ issue No.13, June 2000]

Regards

Michael D.R.