Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Battle of Jutland’ D.S.M. and Medaille Militaire group of seven awarded to Chief Petty Officer H. E. Fox, R.N., for services aboard H.M.S. Falmouth, which survived the battle but was sunk by U-boats off Flamborough Head a few weeks later

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (165514. H. E. Fox, C.P.O. H.M.S. Falmouth. 31. May, - 1. June, 1916.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (H. E. Fox, P.O. 2nd Cl: H.M.S. Barracouta) clasps riveted but loose as issued; 1914-15 Star (165514. H. E. Fox, C.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (165514 H. E. Fox. C.P.O. R.N.) the B.W.M. officially re-impressed; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (165514. H. E. Fox. C.P.O. H.M.S. Pembroke); French Medaille Militaire, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, reverse circlet on this lacking most enamel, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (7) £1200-1500

19 medals with 3 clasps issued to H.M.S. Barracouta.

D.S.M. London Gazette 15 September 1916: ‘For services rendered by Petty Officers and Men of the Grand Fleet in the action in the North Sea on the 31st May-1st June, 1916 - Chief Petty Officer Harry Ernest Fox, ON 165514.’

Medaille Militaire London Gazette 15 September 1916 (Jutland Gazette).

Harry Ernest Fox was born in the Parish of St John’s, Margate, Kent. He served aboard the light cruiser Falmouth from 9 February 1912 to 26 August 1916, taking part in most of the early fleet actions, including the battles of Heligoland Bight, Dogger Bank, and Jutland. As part of the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron in the battle of Jutland, Falmouth fired a total of 175 shells, the most of any British light cruiser.

On the evening of 18 August 1916, the Grand Fleet put to sea in response to a message deciphered by ‘Room 40’ that indicated that the High Seas Fleet would be leaving harbour that night. The German objective was to bombard Sunderland the following day, based on extensive reconnaissance conducted by Zeppelins and submarines. Part of the plan was to draw British ships through a series of submarine ambushes and Falmouth fell victim to one of the awaiting U-boats, U-66, at about 16:05 the following afternoon after the Grand Fleet was headed for home. Two torpedoes badly damaged the cruiser, but follow-on attacks were unsuccessful due to the presence of escorting destroyers. Shortly after she was struck, the armed trawler Cooksin went alongside and took off all of the men not required to work the ship. Falmouth was able to steam through the night under her own power at a speed of just 2 knots, although a pair of tugboats came out the following morning and took her in tow. Her course took her right past U-63, which put another pair of torpedoes into her around noon, despite eight escorting destroyers. The cruiser remained afloat for another eight hours before sinking off Flamborough Head. No on was killed in the attacks, but one man later died of his injuries.