Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Chief Engine Room Artificer First Class M. O. Wicken, Royal Navy, who was killed in action when H.M.S. Queen Mary was sunk during the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916

1914-15 Star (268967, M.O. Wicken, C.ERA. 1, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (268967M. O. Wicken. C.E.R.A. 1 R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (268967. M. O. Wicken. C.E.R.A. 2Cl. H.M.S. Vernon.) good very fine (4) £300-£400

Maurice Oscar Wicken was born in Southwark, London, on 16 January 1876 and joined the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer Fourth Class on 18 February 1897. Advanced Chief Engine Room Artificer Second Class on 11 June 1910, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 23 February 1913, and joined H.M.S. Queen Mary on 4 September 1913. He served from the outbreak of the Great War in Queen Mary, and was promoted Chief Engine Room Artificer First Class on 11 June 1915. He was present at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, when, under the command of Captain C. I. Prowse, Queen Mary engaged the German ships SMS Seydlitz and SMS Derfflinger during the opening phase of the Battle. One of Derfflinger’s shells scored a direct hit on Queen Mary’s ‘Q’ turret detonating the magazines and breaking the ship in two. She was sunk with the loss of 1,266 crew and only 18 survivors.

Wicken was amongst those killed, and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.