Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Able Seaman A. Crook, Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. Iron Duke at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (A. Crook, A.B., H.M.S. Gibraltar.); 1914-15 Star (176503, A. Crook, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (176503 A. Crook. A.B. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (176503, A. Crook, A.B., H.M.S. Vernon.) QSA very fine, the remainder extremely fine (5) £200-£240

Albert Crook was born in Portsea, Hampshire in August 1878. He enlisted into the Royal Navy in October 1893 and was assigned to the training ship H.M.S. St Vincent as a Boy Second Class. In March 1901 he was posted to the cruiser, H.M.S. Gibraltar which then sailed to the Cape to act as flagship of Rear-Admiral Arthur Moore, Commander-in-Chief of the Cape Station. Crook was serving in the torpedo school, H.M.S. Vernon when he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in September 1911.

Throughout the duration of the Great War, Crook served aboard the dreadnought battleship and flagship of the Grand Fleet, H.M.S. Iron Duke. It played a major part in the Battle of Jutland having scored several hits on the German dreadnought battleship S.M.S. König, inflicting significant damage. He was demobilised in February 1919, but then joined the Coast Guard Force the following July.