Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

Three: Able Seaman A. Hands, Royal Navy, who was killed in action when the cruiser H.M.S. Cressy was torpedoed and sunk, along with her sister ships Aboukir and Hogue, in the North Sea by the German submarine U-9 on 22 September 1914, with the loss of 1,459 lives
1914-15 Star (126838, A. Hands, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (126838 A. Hands. A.B. R.N.), nearly extremely fine

Pair: Private A. Hands, Army Service Corps
British War and Victory Medals (M2-148814 Pte. A. Hands. A.S.C.) nearly extremely fine (5) £280-£320

Arthur Hands was born in Birmingham on 19 May 1868 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 25 March 1884. Advanced Able Seaman on 1 July 1889, he was shore invalided on 8 August 1890 and joined the Chatham Division of the Royal Fleet Reserve on 1 August 1903. He was recalled for War service on 2 August 1914, and served during the Great War with the cruiser H.M.S. Cressy. He was killed in action when the Cressy, along with her sister ships Aboukir and Hogue, part of the 7th Cruiser Squadron engaged in blockade and patrol duties, were all torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea by the German submarine U-9 on 22 September 1914. The Aboukir was the first to be hit, at 06:20; her captain thought that she had struck a mine and ordered the other two ships to close in order to transfer his wounded men. The Aboukir quickly began listing and capsized, sinking at 06:50. Having approached, stopped, and lowered her boats, Hogue was struck by two torpedoes at 06:55 as she was attempting to rescue the survivors. She capsized and sank within twenty minutes. Cressy meanwhile attempted to ram the submarine, but did not hit anything and resumed her rescue efforts until she too was torpedoed at 07:20. She too took on a heavy list and then capsized before sinking at 07:55. Total losses from the three ships were 62 officers and 1,397 men killed.

Hands was amongst those killed, and he is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. His son, also named Arthur Hands, served with the Army Service Corps during the Great War, and was discharged on 2 June 1917, being awarded a Silver War Badge.