Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Acting Chief Armourer R. E. Brooking, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (341905, R. E. Brooking, A.r. Mr., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (341905 R. E. Brooking. Act. Ch. Armr. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (341905 R. E. Brooking. Armrs. Mate. H.M.S. Gossamer.) nearly very fine (4) £100-£140

Richard Ernest Brooking was born on 27 August 1876, at Stoke Damerel, Devon. He commenced naval service as Armourers Crewman in H.M.S. Cambridge on 31 January 1898, and was advanced to Armourer’s Mate in H.M.S. Vivid, on 4 May 1903. He subsequently served in several ships including H.M.S. Defiance, H.M.S. Espiegle, H.M.S. Mutine, H.M.S. Theseus and H.M.S. Vivid II. He was appointed to H.M.S. Gossamer on 5 November 1912; was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1914; and was advanced to Armourer on 16 August 1915. He also served during the Great War in H.M.S. Bellona and H.M.S. Vivid II. He was invalided from H.M.S. Vivid III on 20 August 1919.

H.M.S. Gossamer was formerly a torpedo gunboat, built at Sheerness Dockyard and launched in 1890. In 1908 she was converted to a minesweeper. In 1912 H.M.S. Gossamer was serving in the 1st Fleet. Her Great War service was in home waters, and by 1918 was in the 13th Minesweeping Flotilla, Oban.