Description

Offered is a scarce Great War D.S.C. and Bar group of eight awarded to Captain A. Macrae, Royal Naval Reserve, who won both awards in a short period of time for his actions against enemy submarines whilst in command of Osprey

Distinguished Service Cross (G.V.R., hallmarks London 1917), with Second Award Bar, un-named as issued; British War and Victory Medals WITH M.I.D.; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Naval Reserve Decoration, G.V.R. (hallmarks London 1928). All medals unnamed as issued except the British War and Victory medals which are impressed named LIUET. A. MAC RAE. R.N.R. Court mounted for display; Officers epaulettes, New Zealand Shipping Coy cap badge and buttons (4); WW1 service certificates (2). Comes with copy service papers, London Gazettes, photograph and newspaper articles.

London Gazette D.S.C. 17/11/1917. Bar to D.S.C 19/12/1917.

There were only 91 D.S.C. & Bars awarded for the Great War.

Commodore Alexander Beaton MacRae, was born on 13/8/1884 at Stornoway, Lewis. His father was a fisherman who unfortunately drowned off the coast of Ness when the boat was swept under in a heavy swell, Alexander was 6 months old at the time. An only child he was raised by his mother who struggled financially. As a teenager, he was taught navigation in night classes by the wife of the local priest, a valuable skill in a fishing community. In 1902 he went to sea as a deckhand and by 1911 he was a Chief Officer working for the Federal Steam Navigation Company (New Zealand Shipping Coy).

WW1: Following the outbreak of the war he enlisted with the Royal Navy Reserve on 16/11/1914, he was posted as the 1^st Lieutenant to the H.M.S. Coquette (D class destroyer) which was part of the Nore Local Flotilla based at Sheerness. She was sunk on the 7 /3/1916 at the entrance to Black Deep off the East Coast near Harwich after striking a mine laid by the German submarine UC-10 with the loss of 22 crew members including the captain. MacRae was one of the 40 survivors.

Posted as commander to T.B 112 on 3/4/ 1916 and promoted Lieutenant 1/11/1916. Posted to H.M.S Osprey as commander 29/5/1917 – 22/11/1917 & 8/7/1918 – 8/1/1919.

H.M.S Osprey (destroyer) was deployed to the North Channel patrol and based at Larne, Ireland. Her deployment included anti-submarine and counter-mining patrols as well as contraband enforcement.  On 8/6/1917 he was found responsible for the grounding of the Osprey in Lerwick Harbour but received a letter of appreciation from the Admiralty for ‘Attacking enemy submarines 8/8/1917’.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for attacking an enemy submarine on 20/10/1917 and the bar for similar action a month later. His biography credits him with the sinking of the two submarines.

He demobilised January 1919 only to re-join in 1939 and was promoted to Commodore. His biography states that he was the Commodore in charge of the largest convoy to cross the Atlantic, some 60 ships. HX300 was 166 ships) Post-war he was the Kings Harbour Master at Stranraer until his final retirement.