A scarce & unusual Great War teenage 'Jock's' Killed-in-Action 'Battle of the Sambre' medal group of 3 to a former Merchant Seaman: Private Robert Sim Westwood, 1st Bn Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, late Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary

- British War Medal. Silver issue (R. Westwood. Fmn. M.F.A.)
- Mercantile Marine Medal (Robert. S. Westwood.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (R. Westwood. Fmn. M.F.A.)

Note: All medals correctly named per the official protocol of being named to the 'service' (unit) in which the recipient 'first' entered a theatre of war during the Great War

Important: Private Robert Sim Westwood 1st Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders confirmed 'Killed-in-Action', 4 November 1918 - who had earlier in 1916 survived the sinking of the S.S. By German U-Boat S.S. Duke of Albany - on which ship his Uncle William Westwood was 'Killed-in-Action'

The loss of H.M.S. Duke of Albany (ref ADM 137/3165)

Quote,

At 07.00am on 24th August 1916 HMS Duke of Albany together with the Armed Boarding Vessel HMS Duke of Clarence left Longhope to patrol to the east of the Pentland Skerries.

At 09.00 am both vessels being 1 1/2 miles apart in position 58 44N 2 28W and were zig zagging on a true east course. Lt. Leslie, officer of the watch, observed a torpedo, 300 meters distant off the port bow. The vessel was immediately turned away but the torpedo struck the port engine room just a few feet below the waterline at 09.03 am. A second torpedo was then seen passing close to the stern.

HMS Duke of Albany very quickly started to settle. Capt. Ramage appeared in the wheelhouse and asked Lt. Leslie if he had seen anything, referring to the submarine to which he relied no. The order was then given to abandon ship. The blast from the torpedo had destroyed No.4 lifeboat but there were 3 other main lifeboats and a number of rafts and smaller boats.

Capt. Ramage ordered Lt. Leslie to repeat abandon ship signal then said '' God damn it Leslie I cannot fire a shot''. That was the last that Lt. Leslie saw of the Captain.

Lt. Leslie went below to check on a fellow lieutenant who was ill but found his bunk empty so he left and joined his designated lifeboat. Six minutes after the torpedo struck HMS Duke of Albany sank. As the vessel sank there was a large explosion at the stern which is thought to have been depth charges going off . Lt. Leslie's lifeboat could not get away from the sinking vessel as the swirling water held the boat alongside the ship. One of the lifeboat davits then caught the lifeboat causing it to capsize with 25 crew onboard.

Lt. Leslie found himself under the lifeboat with 6 or 7 other crewmen. He knew one to be a good swimmer and asked him to duck down under the gunwale and see ''if everything is all right''. The crewman tried but could not owing to the buoyancy in his cork lifejacket so Lt. Leslie removed his own lifejacket and swam out from under the boat. On surfacing he found crew on top of the upturned boat with 2 other lifeboats nearby. Instructions were then passed to those still under the lifeboat and all swam out successfully.

HMS Duke of Clarence at once proceeded to Duke of Albany and slipped two life boats near the people swimming and then endeavoured to ram the U boat as a disturbance was observed in the water that was thought to indicate its position. It is reported that this may have been slightly successful as slight metallic shock was reported from the engine room.

The survivors were taken back to Scapa Flow by the HMTBD Menace and HMS Duke of Clarence and most were put onboard the Receiving ship HMS Imperieuse with 3 officers and 13 ratings being taken for treatment to HM Hospital Ship Soudan. Two bodies were also landed that had been recovered from the sea.

Unquote.

Medals all verified as entitled / issued per the respective medal rolls / index cards as under:

- British War & Victory Medals: ADM 171/133
- Mercantile Marine War Service Medal: BT 351/1/149056

The MFA medal roll includes notation that a 1914-15 Star, was also sent - however considering the recipients age (16 in 1915) and the absence of any star amongst the recipients other extant medals, it 'may' be a clerical error (and possibly an award meant for his uncle William Westwood who served on the same ship - the 'Duke of Albany' - that was torpedoed and sunk by a German enemy U-Boat on 24 August 1916, who in spite of his senior age is shown as only being issued with a Great War medal pair, in contrast against the 'trio' awarded to his 16 year old nephew!

Robert Sim Westwood, son of Agnes Westwood, 31 Bowling Green Street, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland, was born circa 1899. At only 16 years of age, Robert Westwood saw service in the Mercantile Marine, serving as a 'Fireman ' with the Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary. In 1916, he was serving aboard the 'Duke of Albany' when that ship was torpedoed and sunk by German U-Boat ()on 1916, at which time his uncle, William Westwood, serving on the same ship was 'Killed-in-Action'. Robert Westwood subsequently took his discharge from the Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary, and next enlisted into the British Army, being posted to the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders (No. 32564), being posted to the 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders serving on the Western Front in France. Robert Westwood was subsequently killed in action on, 4 November 1918, during the Battle of the Sambre, on which date 1/Camerons, incurred 15 men killed & a further 40 +/- wounded or missing

A scarce and unusual combination of campaign medals to a Mercantile Marine seafarer, who later lost his life being 'Killed-in-Action' in November 1918, while serving with the 1st Battalion Queens Own Cameron Highlanders

Condition: Mostly GVF

Code: 20956