Auction Catalogue

14 April 2021

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 280

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14 April 2021

Hammer Price:
£150

Three: Petty Officer W. J. Hancock, H.M.S. Warrior, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (208239. W. J. Hancock. L.S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (208239 W. J. Hancock. P.O. R.N.) very fine (3) £100-£140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals for the Battle of Jutland.

View A Collection of Medals for the Battle of Jutland

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Collection

The armoured cruiser H.M.S. Warrior was launched on 22 February 1909 and was part of the 1st Cruiser Squadron at the Battle of Jutland, where she was heavily damaged by German shells, and having been taken in tow, foundered on 1 June 1916

William James Hancock was born in Horwill, Devon, on 6 May 1884 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 5 February 1900. Advanced Leading Seaman on 1 May 1914, he served during the Great War in H.M.S. Warrior from the outbreak of War. At Jutland the armoured cruisers H.M.S. Defence and Warrior, part of the 1st Cruiser Squadron, were closing with the disabled German light cruiser Wiesbaden, when they came under concentrated fire from the battlecruiser Derfflinger and four battleships at less than 8,000 yards. Defence blew up and Warrior was heavily damaged and was only saved from from further punishment when the German ships switched their fire to the more tempting target in the form of the battleship Warspite whose steering had become jammed. Badly damaged, Warrior was able to make her way out of the battle zone and was eventually taken in tow by the seaplane carrier Engadine who took off her surviving crew of 743. However, the ship could not be saved and she was abandoned the next day and subsequently foundered, with the loss of 70 lives.

Hancock was advanced Petty Officer on 1 March 1918, and was shore pensioned on reduction of the Fleet on 10 June 1922.