Five: Petty Officer J. M. Clarke, Royal Naval Reserve

1914-15 Star (C.2054 J. M. Clarke, L.S., R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (2054C J. M. Clarke. P.O., R.N.R.); Royal Naval Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (C.2054 J. M. Clarke, P.O., R.N.R.); Russia, Empire, Medal for Zeal, Nicholas II, silver, on ‘St. Stanislaus’ riband (C2054 J. M. Clarke, Lg. Sea., R.N.R. H.M.S. Jupiter) contemporarily named in the style associated with this ship, good very fine

John May Clarke was born in Bideford, Devon in 1874, and joined the Royal Naval Reserve in 1911, serving during the early stages of the Great War in H.M.S. Jupiter.

In January 1915 the Admiralty received a request for assistance from the Russian Government, the latter’s icebreaker used to keep open the passage to Archangel in the White Sea having broken down. In response the Royal Navy sent out the Tyne Guard Ship H.M.S. Jupiter, an old Majestic-class battleship. She departed for Archangel in February 1915, freeing en route a number of vessels stuck in the ice, occasionally by using explosive charges. She, too, sometimes became icebound, but still managed to make a major impression on the problem, improving the safe passage of numerous vessels, many of them laden with highly important war materials, among them the S.S. Thracia. The latter was taken in tow after the use of explosive charges to free her. Throughout these operations it was not unusual for the temperature to fall as low as minus 20 degrees, a hard test indeed on the morale and well being of the Jupiter’s crew. Her mission completed by May 1915, the Tsar expressed his gratitude by the presentation of a variety of Russian Honours and Awards to her crew.

Clarke remained in the Royal Naval Reserve, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 10 January 1920.

Sold with copied service papers and other research, including various photographic images of H.M.S. Jupiter.