Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Qualified Stoker G. H. Hocking, New Zealand Royal Naval Reserve

1914-15 Star (N.Z.683 Q. Sto. R.N.R. “Philomel”); British War and Victory Medals (N.Z.683 Q. Sto. R.N.R. “Philomel”) very fine and better (3) £200-260

George Herbert Hocking was born on 21 April 1886 at Poplar, London. A Seaman by occupation, his papers show that he joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 1 July 1902 and deserted the following day. Settling in New Zealand, he enlisted into the New Zealand R.N.R. as a Fireman on 30 May 1910. On 6 August 1914 he embarked on the 3rd class cruiser H.M.S. Philomel, his address at the time being ‘23 Glenberrie Terrace, Tinapori Road, Wellington’.

A few days later, in company with the Psyche and Pyramus, the Philomel sailed from Auckland escorting two transports carrying troops who occupied German Samoa on 30 August. After returning to New Zealand, the three cruisers left Wellington on 16 October as part of the escort for the convoy of ten transports carrying the Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force for Egypt. Philomel then spent several months from January 1915 patrolling the Gulf of Alexandretta in the Eastern Mediterranean. Several landings were made, and in one clash with the Turks the Philomel’s casualties were three killed and three wounded, one being the first New Zealander killed in the war. The ship then took part in the defence of the Suez Canal, in operations in the Gulf of Aden, and in patrols in the Persian Gulf. She returned to Wellington in April 1917 and was paid off. Hocking was discharged on 16 March 1917 as ‘time expired’. On 15 November 1918 a telegram was sent to ‘Mrs McGavin, 175 Adelaide Road, Wellington’ stating, ‘Regret to inform you G. Hocking ex Philomel dangerously ill Victoria Military Ward Wellington Hospital’. Sold with copied service papers and research.