Five: Able Seaman A. Crook, H.M.S. Iron Duke, Royal Navy

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (A. Crook, A.B., H.M.S. Gibraltar.); 1914-15 Star (176503, A. Crook, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (176503 A. Crook. A.B. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (176503, A. Crook, A.B., H.M.S. Vernon.) QSA very fine, the rest nearly extremely fine (5) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals for the Battle of Jutland.

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The dreadnought battleship H.M.S. Iron Duke was launched on 12 October 1912 and was the Fleet Flagship at the Battle of Jutland, where she inflicted significant damage on the S.M.S. König, and fired a total of 90 twelve-inch shells and 50 four-inch shells during the battle.

Albert Crook was born in Portsea, Hampshire in August 1878. He enlisted into the Royal Navy in October 1893 and was assigned to the training ship H.M.S. St Vincent as a Boy Second Class. In March 1901 he was posted to the cruiser, H.M.S. Gibraltar which then sailed to the Cape to act as flagship of Rear-Admiral Arthur Moore, Commander-in-Chief of the Cape Station. Crook was serving in the torpedo school, H.M.S. Vernon when he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in September 1911. Throughout the duration of the Great War, Crook served aboard the dreadnought battleship and flagship of the Grand Fleet, H.M.S. Iron Duke. He was demobilised in February 1919, and joined the Coast Guard Force the following July.