A MEDAL presented to the first man to sink a German U-boat is to be sold at auction.

The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) was presented to Captain John Bell of Redcar who turned his unarmed cargo ship on the undersea menace after launched a torpedo attack in 1915.

A deposition made to customs officers by the Merchant Navy captain described how he spotted the U-boat passing his bow in the English Channel.

It fired a torpedo but he was able to manoevre the SS Thordis, carrying coal from Newcastle to Plymouth, to safety.

Then, instead of running, Captain Bell turned and aimed the 500 ton steam ship at full speed at the submerged U-boats's periscope.

Ordering the crew on deck in case they had to abandon ship, they felt a loud crash moments later and oil floated to the surface.

In his deposition, he said: "I noticed the wake of torpedo on my starboard beam. I then put my helm hard over to starboard and ran over periscope, when I and all the crew heard and felt crash under bottom.

"I did not see submarine after, but saw oil floating on water. I then proceeded on voyage." 

The SS Thordis suffered damage to its hull and propeller.

At the time German U-boats were posed a grave threat to shipping, with five Royal Navy cruisers being lost during the first ten weeks of the First World War.

Captain Bell's actions made him a national hero and the crew were given a reward of £860, equivalent to £75,000 today.

He was presented with the DSC by King George V at Buckingham Palace, along with an 18 carat gold watch and a dinner in his honour at the Mansion House.

Captain Bell, who lived with his family in Turner Street, Redcar - later moving to Redcar Lane. He died in 1932 and is buried in Redcar Cemetery.

Now the DSC medal and watch will come up for auction in London on July 2.

It is the second time in recent years the medal has been sold, going for £4,140 in 2007.

This time, they are expected to sell for an estimated £5,000 at auctioneers Morton and Eden, in association with Sotheby’s.