Auction Catalogue

25 & 26 November 2015

Starting at 12:00 PM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Live Online Auction

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Lot

№ 345 x

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25 November 2015

Hammer Price:
£190

Three: Able Seaman F. G. Root, Royal Navy, killed in action, 23 January 1917, when serving on H.M.S. Simoom

1914-15
Star (SS.3195 A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (SS.3195 A.B., R.N.) nearly extremely fine (3) £160-200

Frederick George Root was born in Stepney, London on 22 July 1891. A Carman by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman in November 1909. Promoted to Able Seaman in April 1912 when on H.M.S. Lord Nelson. With the onset of the Great War he was serving on the old battleship H.M.S. Vengeance, February 1913-June 1915. He then served on the cruiser H.M.S. Europa, June-December 1915 and afterwards, the destroyer H.M.S. Mentor, April-December 1916. He served aboard the destroyer H.M.S. Simoom from December 1916. He was killed in action on 23 January 1917 in an engagement between British and German destroyers in the Flanders Bight. The ship, part of the Harwich Force, was torpedoed by the German destroyer S.50. The hit caused an explosion in the magazine which caused many casualties, including that of Able Seaman Root. His name is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. With card box of issue for the 1914-15 Star and some copied research.