Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Stoker 1st Class I. Davies, Royal Navy, killed in action when H.M.S. Hawke was sunk by the German submarine U-9, 15 October 1914

1914-15 Star (SS.101591 Sto. I, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (S.S.101591 Sto. 1, R.N.); Memorial Plaque (Isaac Davies), this in card envelope, extremely fine (4) £280-320

Isaac Davies joined the Royal Navy on 11 November 1905. Serving on H.M.S. Hawke, he was killed in action on 15 October 1914, when the 1st class cruiser was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-9 in the North Sea. His name is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

The old cruiser formed part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron detailed to blockade and patrol the northern trade routes of the North Sea. On 15 October the Hawke was in company with her sister ship the Endymion. At 9.30 a.m., the two ships stopped and a boat was sent from the Hawke to the Endymion to collect mail. The scene was reminiscent of the sinking of the Aboukir, Hogue and Cressy the previous month; more so, as the two stationary ships were spotted by the same submarine under its commander, Lieutenant Otto Weddigen, who wrought havoc on that occasion. Both ships then got under way, with the Hawke, having had to recover its boat, lagging behind. At 10.30 a.m., while still getting up speed, she was hit by a torpedo and sank within a few minutes. Only two boats managed to get away from the stricken ship - one of which disappeared; the men of the surviving boat and those found on a raft - 4 officers and 66 men were the only survivors; nearly 500 officers and men of the Hawke were killed.

Sold with a handwritten ‘Log of H.M.S. Astraea on the China Station 1906-1908’ in which he gives details of the ship’s progress from Chatham to the Far East and back again. Also with an original photograph of the recipient, damaged card box for the 1914-15 Star and repaired slip that accompanied the Memorial Plaque.