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Harold AutenHarold Auten (VC, DSC) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was 26 years old, and a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 30 July 1918 in the English Channel, off England, Lieutenant Auten was in command of HMS Stock Force (one of the 'Q' or 'mystery' ships) when she was torpedoed by a U-boat and very badly damaged. The 'Panic party' took to the boats and the U-boat surfaced half a mile away, but after 15 minutes the 'Panic party' began to row back, followed by the U-boat. When it lay about 300 yards from Stock Force the guns opened fire, doing tremendous damage to the submarine which sank in a very short time. Stock Force finally sank about four hours later, Lieutenant Auten and her crew being taken off by a torpedo boat. He later achieved the rank of Commander. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Naval Museum (Portsmouth, England). Reference This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission. Auten, Harold
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