Reginald Nash | Fellows Blog

Reginald Nash (1889 – 1966), son to Margaret and George Edwin Nash, grew up in Gloucester, Gloucestershire and had three siblings: John, Walter, and Mary. In 1915 he married his spouse Gertrude A. Fawckner they usually had three kids: Joyce, Daphne and Dennis.

Gertrude’s father, William B. Fawckner (1852-1944), enlisted within the military in 1882 and in 1917 retired with the rating of Vice-Admiral. In 1911 William B. Fawckner had the honour of receiving the Coronation medal from George V which he handed right down to his new son-in-law Reginald Nash.

As somebody who had got here from a military household, Gertrude was nothing however supportive when Reginald enlisted within the Royal Navy in 1906. They relocated to Aldershot, Hampshire which is the place they stayed and began their household.

In these journals, Reginald Nash recites his journey and expertise of WWI. One of many important tales he recites is the Battle of Heligoland in 1914 and the way this resulted in him receiving the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) on 22 June 1917. The DSC is a third-level army ornament awarded for gallantry throughout lively operations in opposition to the enemy at sea to officers.

Battle of Heligoland Bight

In August 1914 British submarines within the Heligoland Bight area had observed that German torpedo boats had began to patrol the realm. Roger Keyes Commodore, commander of British submarines, formulated a plan to raid these patrols utilizing the Harwich Drive of sunshine cruisers and destroyers.

The plan was for the Harwich pressure to drive the German patrol away from the German coast at daybreak with British submarines break up into two teams, one to intercept any German reinforcements and the opposite to behave as a decoy to maintain the German torpedo boats offshore. Keyes approached the Admiralty for approval of the plan on August 23, 1914, however the Conflict Workers have been too busy to contemplate the plan. Keyes, relatively than giving up, went on to the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill.

Churchill was impressed by the thought and shortly eight British submarines have been concerned. The sweep was to happen on the 28 August with Keyes and Tyrwhitt placing to sea on the 26 and 27 August respectively. Sadly, it was not till 26 August that the Admiralty knowledgeable Admiral John Jellicoe (Commander-in-Chief Grand Fleet) {that a} main operation was deliberate within the North Sea. This lack of communication from the Admiralty almost led to catastrophe when earlier than daybreak the Harwich pressure encountered the First Gentle Cruiser Squadron.

Right here is Reginald Nash’s first recite of the Battle:

Awarding of D.S.C

The DSC (Distinguished Service Cross) is a third-level army ornament awarded for gallantry throughout lively operations in opposition to the enemy at sea to officers. It was first established by King Edward VII on the twenty eighth June 1901 together with the next assertion:

‘For meritorious or distinguished companies earlier than the Enemy carried out by Warrant Officers or Appearing Warrant Officers, or by subordinate Officers of Your Majesty’s Fleet: and that no particular person shall be nominated thereto until his companies shall have been marked by the especial point out of his identify in despatches by the Admiral or Senior Naval or Navy Officer Commanding the Squadron or indifferent Drive.’

The London Gazette, 28 June 1901. Problem 27328, Web page 4330

Reginald Nash was awarded the DSC because of his actions throughout the Battle of Heligoland. He talks about his gratitude right here:

Reginald Nash at Public sale

Lot 293

First World Conflict and Second World Conflict Distinguished Service Cross Medal Group (8) awarded to Cmdr Reginald Nash RN

Estimate: £4,000 – £6,000

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London

Wednesday twenty first August 10:00-16:00

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Thursday twenty ninth August 10:00-16:00

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