Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Captain G. V. C. Knox, Royal Navy, who was awarded the Norwegian 1905 Coronation Medal whilst serving in H.M.Y. Victoria and Albert

1914-15 Star (Commr. G. V. C. Knox, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. G. V. C. Knox. R.N.); Coronation 1911, silver, unnamed as issued, mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (4) £200-£240

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2011.

Gerald Vivian Cuff Knox was born in South City, Dublin on 29 April 1875, the son of Colonel C. H. C. Knox. Entering the Royal Navy, he was appointed a Midshipman on 15 July 1891, and was promoted to Acting Sub-Lieutenant in April 1895; Sub-Lieutenant in June 1895; Lieutenant in December 1897; Commander in August 1907; and Acting Captain in January 1916. As a Lieutenant aboard H.M.Y. Victoria and Albert (19 September 1905 to 20 September 1907), he was awarded the Norwegian Coronation Medal 1905 of King Haakon VII, and was later awarded the Coronation Medal of King George V in 1911 whilst serving in H.M.S. Surprise.

Knox served as Commander in charge aboard the 2nd Class Cruiser H.M.S. Sappho from April 1912 - the ship being the tender to the flagship of the Grand Fleet, 1914-16. In January 1916 he was appointed Acting Captain of the ship ‘in recognition of skilful handling of Sappho when she broke from her mooring in a gale, 23 December 1915’. He remained Acting Captain of the Sappho until December 1916, later serving in Mesopotamia in the Indian Marine Troopship H.M.S. Dalhousie from 1 May 1917. He was recommended by his G.O.C. for the period ending 15 October 1917 for Mesopotamia and Mentioned in Despatches of 2 November 1917 ‘for distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty’ (London Gazette 12 March 1918). His papers record that he ‘has done very good work in [the] Persian Gulf’.

Knox was placed on the Retired List with the rank of Captain on 23 October 1919. He died in Cheltenham in September 1957.