Four: Commander A. T. Johnstone, Royal Navy, killed in action at the Battle of Jutland aboard H.M.S. Defence

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (Sub. Lieut. A. T. Johnstone R.N., H.M.S. Highflyer); 1914-15 Star (Commr. A. T. Johnstone. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Commr. A. T. Johnstone. R.N.) some verdigris, otherwise nearly extremely fine (4) £800-£1,000

Commander Arthur Townsend Johnstone was killed in action at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 aboard H.M.S. Defence.

At 5:30 on the afternoon of 31 March 1916, the 1st Cruiser Squadron led by Rear Admiral Sir R. Arbuthnot and his flag ship H.M.S. Defence was rapidly approaching the German ‘Scouting Force’ of battle cruisers under Admiral Von Hipper. From the westward, Admiral Beatty was approaching the same enemy at the head of his battle cruisers. 20 minutes later the Defence, followed by the Warrior, began to shell the German light cruiser Wiesbaden, which soon lay helpless and in flames between the two fleets. In an attempt to destroy this ship and to close with Hipper’s Squadron, Admiral Arbuthnot crossed the bows of the far more powerful Lion and thereby exposed himself to the concentrated fire of Von Hipper, who was making a desperate effort to protect the Wiesbaden.

Both of the British Cruisers encountered a torrent of shell fire, the Defence being hit by two salvos in quick succession. She blew up with the loss of her entire compliment of 903 officers and men. The Warrior was so badly damaged that she sank the next morning.

Sold with copied service papers and I.W.M. photograph of H.M.S. Defence.