A Royal Navy (Dover Patrol)
“Casualty”
1914-1915 Trio
&
Commemorative Plaque.
To:
15876 AB. DONOVAN NEVILLE BRIGHT, R.N.
H.M.S. GHURKA (Destroyer) Dover Patrol.
KILLED IN ACTION
8th February 1917.
Age 20.
The ship sank after it struck a German mine off Dungeness.
There were only 6 survivors from a crew of 79.
[THE MEDALS] All officially impressed-
1914-1915 Star J.15876. D.N. BRIGHT. A.B. , R.N.
War Medal 1914-1918
Victory Medal
Commemorative Plaque to:
DONOVAN NEVILLE BRIGHT
with original card cover & Buckingham Palace condolence letter.
*This comes with a touching sprig of what is dried lavender which has clearly always been kept with this assembly.
The Loss of HMS Ghurka
On 8 February 1917 the Ghurka, under the command of Lieutenant Harold G. Woolcombe-Boyce, struck a mine and sank between Dungeness and the Royal Sovereign Light Vessel.
At about 7.45pm, when the officers were about to sit down to their evening meal, a heavy explosion occurred at the forward part of the vessel. Commander Francis H. L. Lewin of HMS Attentive, who was visiting the Ghurka, said:
“I found that the explosion appeared to have taken place in the vicinity of the foremost funnel. The upper deck in that vicinity was practically awash, the fore part of the vessels in that vicinity canting considerably in the air”
Crew on the armed trawler Electra II saw the explosion; the Captain of the vessel, Lieutenant R.S. Bainbridge R.N.R., made an SOS signal and then rushed to give assistance. On arriving at the scene he managed to pick up Commander Lewin and four of the crew.
Another ship on patrol in the vicinity was patrol boat P-24 under command of Lieutenant E.H. Hopkinson. After seeing the signal from Electra II it came up at full speed and successfully rescued Petty Officer C.W.H. Brown. However, according to the ship’s log, after picking up the Petty Officer and searching for other survivors the P24 sighted two more mines and left the vicinity.
The submarine responsible for sinking HMS Ghurka was UC-47 a minelaying submarine commanded by Lieutenant P. Hundius, which started its first channel trip on 6 February. On 7 February eight mines were laid around Dungeness and the Royal Sovereign Light Vessel.
75 men were lost when the Ghurka sank, including Lieutenant Harold G. Woolcombe-Boyce. The wreck lies off Dungeness in 30m of water, with most of the crew’s remains still inside.
In spite of this it was not officially designated a war grave until April 2008, and has been extensively professionally salvaged with explosives used in many places. Parts of the stern are still intact and stand 8metres proud of the general wreckage.
Able Seaman Donovan Neville Bright was lost at sea, has no known grave as is thus Commemorated with Eternal Honour on:
THE PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL.
Date of Birth: 21 March 1896
Place of Birth: Newport, Monmouth.
Pre-War occupation: Cycle Hand.
[ROYAL NAVY SERVICE] 1912-1917 Age 15 to 20
HMS Ganges (Shore Training Establishment).
Boy ll. 10 Feb 1912
Boy I. 9 Aug 1912
HMS Zealandia, Boy/Ord 13 Dec 1913- 30 Oct 1915
HMS Vernon, AB/S 30 Oct 1915-12 Feb 1916
HMS Attentive, AB/S 13 Feb 1916-8 Feb-1917
HMS Ghurka, Discharged Dead: 8th February 1917.
Relative Notified: (Mother)
Mrs Catherine Bright
Bowthorpe Road
Wisbech
Cambridge.
*(The address still exists)
A very touching group which was clearly kept in a lovely state by a grieving mother in memory of her young son of only 20 years.
All medals are totally “mint state” with original mint ribbons.
The plaque is “as cast” in its original card cover with Buckingham Palace Condolence Letter.
A really lovely original R.N. Casualty Group.
£695
[THE MEDALS] All officially impressed-
1914-1915 Star J.15876. D.N. BRIGHT. A.B. , R.N.
War Medal 1914-1918
Victory Medal
Commemorative Plaque to:
DONOVAN NEVILLE BRIGHT
with original card cover & Buckingham Palace condolence letter.
*This comes with a touching sprig of what is dried lavender which has clearly always been kept with this assembly.
The Loss of HMS Ghurka
On 8 February 1917 the Ghurka, under the command of Lieutenant Harold G. Woolcombe-Boyce, struck a mine and sank between Dungeness and the Royal Sovereign Light Vessel.
At about 7.45pm, when the officers were about to sit down to their evening meal, a heavy explosion occurred at the forward part of the vessel. Commander Francis H. L. Lewin of HMS Attentive, who was visiting the Ghurka, said:
“I found that the explosion appeared to have taken place in the vicinity of the foremost funnel. The upper deck in that vicinity was practically awash, the fore part of the vessels in that vicinity canting considerably in the air”
Crew on the armed trawler Electra II saw the explosion; the Captain of the vessel, Lieutenant R.S. Bainbridge R.N.R., made an SOS signal and then rushed to give assistance. On arriving at the scene he managed to pick up Commander Lewin and four of the crew.
Another ship on patrol in the vicinity was patrol boat P-24 under command of Lieutenant E.H. Hopkinson. After seeing the signal from Electra II it came up at full speed and successfully rescued Petty Officer C.W.H. Brown. However, according to the ship’s log, after picking up the Petty Officer and searching for other survivors the P24 sighted two more mines and left the vicinity.
The submarine responsible for sinking HMS Ghurka was UC-47 a minelaying submarine commanded by Lieutenant P. Hundius, which started its first channel trip on 6 February. On 7 February eight mines were laid around Dungeness and the Royal Sovereign Light Vessel.
75 men were lost when the Ghurka sank, including Lieutenant Harold G. Woolcombe-Boyce. The wreck lies off Dungeness in 30m of water, with most of the crew’s remains still inside.
In spite of this it was not officially designated a war grave until April 2008, and has been extensively professionally salvaged with explosives used in many places. Parts of the stern are still intact and stand 8metres proud of the general wreckage.
Able Seaman Donovan Neville Bright was lost at sea, has no known grave as is thus Commemorated with Eternal Honour on:
THE PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL.
Date of Birth: 21 March 1896
Place of Birth: Newport, Monmouth.
Pre-War occupation: Cycle Hand.
[ROYAL NAVY SERVICE] 1912-1917 Age 15 to 20
HMS Ganges (Shore Training Establishment).
Boy ll. 10 Feb 1912
Boy I. 9 Aug 1912
HMS Zealandia, Boy/Ord 13 Dec 1913- 30 Oct 1915
HMS Vernon, AB/S 30 Oct 1915-12 Feb 1916
HMS Attentive, AB/S 13 Feb 1916-8 Feb-1917
HMS Ghurka, Discharged Dead: 8th February 1917.
Relative Notified: (Mother)
Mrs Catherine Bright
Bowthorpe Road
Wisbech
Cambridge.
*(The address still exists)
A very touching group which was clearly kept in a lovely state by a grieving mother in memory of her young son of only 20 years.
All medals are totally “mint state” with original mint ribbons.
The plaque is “as cast” in its original card cover with Buckingham Palace Condolence Letter.
A really lovely original R.N. Casualty Group.
£695 
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