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Description: | obverse design : knife, held by a raised right hand. The knife's blade runs parallel to the forearm and points downwards.
Part of the arm is obscured by a cuff which is decorated with the Union Flag
obverse text : "BARALONG MOERDER" & "19.AVG.1915"
reverse design : King George V, standing, facing right, in naval uniform and cocked hat, awarding a cross-like decoration to a centrally
positioned naval officer who wears a cap and holds a dagger in his right hand. To the right of the naval officer Queen Mary, standing
facing left, diademed. She holds a wreath draped from which is a streamer marked "DEN KULTUR KÄMPFERN". All figures represented in
caricature
reverse text : "HEIMKEHR DES SIEGERS"
This 1915 satirical medal represents a censure of the use made by the Royal Navy of 'Q' (or 'Decoy') ships to protect
merchant shipping from U-boat attack. In particular Goetz cites as criminal the actions of Lieutenant-Commander Godfrey Herbert, the
captain of the Q-ship SS Baralong, following the destruction of the U-27 in the Atlantic on 19 August 1915. After the engagment a number of
German submariners escaped from the stricken U-boat and attempted to board a nearby merchant vessel, the 'Nicosian', which was carrying a
cargo of mules. In order to prevent the Germans boarding, and possibly scuttling the merchantman, Captain Herbert ordered his guns and
marines to open fire on the escapees. Four Germans managed to board the 'Nicosian' but were subsequently discovered and shot by British
marines. The obverse text is translated as 'Baralong murder'. The text on the reverse design (on streamer) is translated as 'To the
champions of culture', and the ironic reverse text as 'Conqueror returning home'.
In common with U-boat commanders Goetz considered Q-ships and their crews as pirates, because they exploited the flags and colours of
neutral countries wore civilian clothes until the moment they attacked. See also MED 577. In fact, other countries, including Germany, used
Q-ships during the war. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Subjects: | satirical SS Baralong (Q-ship) Royal Navy Herbert Destruction of by SS Baralong & 19/8/1915 Atlantic & U27 commemorative First World War propaganda Godfrey (Lieutenant-Commander) | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Goetz, Karl | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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