Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

Three: Able Seaman A. Hands, Royal Navy, killed in action when H.M.S. Cressy was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea on 22 September 1914

1914-15 Star (126838 A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (126838 A.B., R.N.); together with related British War and Victory Medal pair (M2-148814 Pte., A.S.C.) extremely fine (5) £300-350

Able Seaman Arthur Hands was killed in action on 22 September 1914 whilst serving aboard H.M.S. Cressy in the North Sea. Cressy was engaged in rescue operations attempting to save the crew of H.M.S. Aboukir and H.M.S. Hogue both of whom had been torpedoed by the U9, when she too was fatally hit. As H.M.S. Cressy was the last to be attacked all her lifeboats were away and mostly filled with survivors from the other two ships. She therefore possessed little means of saving her own crew and as a result, the loss of life on H.M.S. Cressy was very heavy. Sold with copy service papers.

Private Arthur Hands was discharged from the Army Service Corps on 2 August 1917, and was entitled to a Silver War Badge. Sold with copy m.i.c.