Ronald Neil Stuart
Lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve
- Register No.
- 1191 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- Royal Naval Reserve (register: HMS Pargust) all HMS Pargust VCs →
- Date of action
- 7 June 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 20th July 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 26th August 1886 at Liverpool, Lancashire
- Died
- 8th February 1954 at Charing, Kent
- Memorial / grave
- at Charing cemetery, Kent
- Medal held by
- the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Digest of citation
Whilst serving in the Atlantic on 7th June 1917, aboard the 'Q', or Mystery ship, HMS Pargust* they were attacked by a U-boat at about 8 am. Firing a torpedo at close range, the U-boat damaged Pargust 's engine room. The 'Panic Party ' pulled away from the ship and the U-boat thinking that the ship was sinking, surfaced. The captain of the U-boat assumed that the ship was a merchantman, and closed. When the submarine was only 50 yards away the Pargust opened fire. Whilst trying to escape, by diving, the U-boat received a great many direct hits causing her to blow up and sink. unarmed merchantman or similar. On attracting the attack by a U-boat, a Panic Party would leave the ship in a lifeboat. The U-boat would usually surface and close on the distressed ship. At a certain range the 'Q' ship would open fire, often successfully sinking the submarine. The citations for 'Q' ship Victoria Cross winners would never reveal, during the war, the reason for the award for fear of giving the enemy vital information
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
STUART, Ronald Neil. (reg No. 1191).
Lieutenant. Royal Naval Reserve.
London Gazetted on 20th July 1917.
VC Medal's Custodian is the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
Born on 26th August 1886 at Liverpool, Lancashire.
Died on 8th February 1954 at Charing, Kent.
Memorial on grave at Charing cemetery, Kent.
Digest of Citation reads: Whilst serving in the Atlantic on 7th June 1917, aboard the 'Q', or Mystery ship, HMS Pargust* they were attacked by a U-boat at about 8 am. Firing a torpedo at close range, the U-boat damaged Pargust 's engine room. The 'Panic Party ' pulled away from the ship and the U-boat thinking that the ship was sinking, surfaced. The captain of the U-boat assumed that the ship was a merchantman, and closed. When the submarine was only 50 yards away the Pargust opened fire. Whilst trying to escape, by diving, the U-boat received a great many direct hits causing her to blow up and sink.
* A 'Q' ship was a Royal Naval vessel, usually disguised as an unarmed merchantman or similar. On attracting the attack by a U-boat, a Panic Party would leave the ship in a lifeboat. The U-boat would usually surface and close on the distressed ship. At a certain range the 'Q' ship would open fire, often successfully sinking the submarine. The citations for 'Q' ship Victoria Cross winners would never reveal, during the war, the reason for the award for fear of giving the enemy vital information.
Additional information:. Captain Stuart was awarded the Victoria Cross under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant, ie., elected by his ship's fellow officers. He also held the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and the Royal Naval and Royal Marine Forces Reserve Decoration (R.D.). Also elected under Rule 13 was Seaman William Williams (see citation).
Additional information
Captain Stuart was awarded the Victoria Cross under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant, ie., elected by his ship's fellow officers. He also held the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and the Royal Naval and Royal Marine Forces Reserve Decoration (R.D.). Also elected under Rule 13 was Seaman William Williams (see citation).
* A 'Q' ship was a Royal Naval vessel, usually disguised as an
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Charing cemetery, Kent
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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