The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 2)

Six: 1914-15 Star (O.N. 7991 T. W. Hickson, Stoker P.O.); British War and Victory Medals (7991 T. W. Hickson, S.P.O. R.A.N.); H.M.A.S. Sydney Medal, Presented by the people of Western Australia to ‘T. W. Hickson, Stoker Py. Officer’; H.M.A.S. Sydney S.M.S. Emden, Mexican Dollar, mounted by W. Kerr, Sydney, nearly extremely fine (6)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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In a daring but short career of destruction the German Cruiser EMDEN wrought havoc in the Indian Ocean in the early months of the war. Between 10 September and her destruction by H.M.A.S. SYDNEY on 9 November 1914, she had captured or sunk no fewer than 23 ships including a Russian Cruiser and a French Destroyer. The combined value of the captures was estimated at £4 million. Arriving off Cocos Keeling Island the EMDEN sent 43 men ashore to smash the wireless apparatus there, when the SYDNEY appeared, and the EMDEN departed, leaving the 43 men ashore. Fire was opened, and though at first good the EMDEN’s gunnery failed later, and quickly losing two funnels the boat took fire, and while the flames spread fatally the SYDNEY started the work of rescue among the crew. The Sydney was scarcely scratched in the fight and suffered the loss of three killed and 15 wounded.

Stoker Petty Officer T. W. Hickson, H.M.A.S. Sydney, died on 9 November 1915 and is buried in Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Hampshire.