Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Rank:

Engineman

Unit:

H.M. Drifter "Violet May", Royal Navy

Awarded on:

March 15th, 1918

Citation:
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When their ship had been very severely handled by the enemy, and was on fire forward, and all the rest of the crew had been killed with two exceptions, and those so badly wounded that they could render little or no assistance, Engmn. Ewing and Noble cleared the wreckage of the boom from the small boat, got out the boat, put their wounded shipmates into it, and then took to the boat. Finding the ship did not sink, they returned to her, attacked the fire with buckets, and got it out, small arm ammunition in the wheelhouse exploding as they worked. They then got their injured ship- mates on board again and made them comfortable, afterwards burning flares of old clothes soaked in paraffin until picked up and towed in at 7 a.m. The Vice-Admiral, Dover Patrol, reports: "The conduct of Noble and Ewing was altogether admirable. Their great gallantry and devotion to duty-and, I would add, their simple modesty- entitles them to very special consideration"."

Honours for Services in Action on the Occasion of the Raid into the Straits of Dover by Enemy Destroyers on the Night of the 14th-15th February, 1918.