Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Chief Ship’s Cook W. J. Couzens, Royal Navy, who was killed in action at the battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (340014. W. J. Couzens, Sh. Ck. H.M.S. Mohawk); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (340014. W. J. Couzens, Ch. Sh. Ck. H.M.S. Vengeance.) both later impressed duplicate issues, good very fine (2) £260-£300

Walter James Couzens was born at Portsmouth on 21 May 1875, and joined the Royal Navy as a 2nd Cook’s Mate on 24 January 1894; Cook’s Mate, 12 November 1895; Acting 2nd Ship’s Cook aboard H.M.S. Powerful, 1 September 1899 to 8 May 1900, including service in South Africa at the Defence of Ladysmith (Medal with clasp - duplicate issued); Ship’s Cook, 21 May 1901; H.M.S. Mohawk, 8 January 1903 to 13 July 1904, including operations in Somaliland (Medal with clasp - duplicate issued); Chief Cook, 8 September 1905; Chief Ship’s Cook, 1 October 1907; H.M.S. Vengeance, 13 October 1908, recommended for Medal and Gratuity, 31 December 1908; served aboard H.M.S. Invincible from 3 August 1914, taking part in the battle of Heligoland Bight and in the battle of the Falkland Islands. He was killed in action at the battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, when Invincible was destroyed by a magazine explosion during the battle after the armour of one of her gun turrets was penetrated.

He is also entitled to the 1914-15 Star trio and is commemorated by name on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.