Harold Auten

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Harold Auten (VC, DSC) (22 August 1891 - 3 October 1964) 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.

A former pupil of Wilson's School, 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. Nearing safe harbour,Stock Force finally sank about four hours later, Lieutenant Auten and her crew being taken off by a torpedo boat.

During World War II, he held the rank of Commander in the RNR and served as senior staff organizing trans-Atlantic convoys. In his subsequent civilian life became executive Vice-President of the Rank Organisation, living in the US.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Naval Museum (Portsmouth, England).

[edit] References

Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
VCs of the First World War - The Naval VCs (Stephen Snelling, 2002)
"Q" Boat Adventures (Lieut-Commander Harold Auten, V.C. MCMX1X )
Allport, D.H. & Friskney, N.J. "A Short History of Wilson's School", Wilson's School Charitable Trust, 1987