Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Chief Shipwright Frank James, Royal Navy, who was awarded the Naval M.S.M. for services aboard H.M.S. Caledon during the battle of Heligoland Bight on 17 November 1917

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (F. James, Ldg: Car: Cr: H.M.S. Fearless); 1914-15 Star (341996, F. James, Ch. Shpt., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (341996 F. James. Ch. Shpt., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (341996 Frank James, Shipt., 1Cl., H.M.S. Imperieuse); Royal Naval Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (341996 F. James, Ch. Shipwt. 2Cl. “Caledon” Services During War) together with a small silver medal for Their Majesties Visit to India 1911-12, very fine and better (7) £800-£1,000

M.S.M. London Gazette 27 June 1919.

The original recommendation states: ‘The Carpenter being on leave this Chief Petty Officer, in charge of the Carpenter ratings, did splendid and intelligent service in shoring up the large hole made by a 12-inch shell, through which a dangerous quantity of water would otherwise have entered, likely to impair the ship’s further fighting efficiency.’

The same gazette announced the award of four D.S.O.s and one D.S.C. to Officers of H.M.S. Caledon, all for the battle of Heligoland Bight on 17 November, 1917. H.M.S. Caledon was Commodore Walter Cowan’s Flagship and part of the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron in what was the last ‘big-ship’ engagement of the Great War. Caledon was hit amid ships by a large calibre German shell killing and wounding most of the crew of one of her guns. Seaman J. H. Carless, although mortally wounded, continued to serve his gun before finally succumbing to his wounds. He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

Frank James was born in the Parish of Boscombe, near Christchurch, on 11 January 1878, and was a carpenter by trade when he joined the Royal Navy as Carpenter’s Crew on 11 March 1898. He served as Leading Carpenter’s Crew aboard H.M.S. Fearless from June 1899 to November 1900, including service off the coast of South Africa (Medal). Advancing to Shipwright in January 1902 and to Leading Shipwright in April 1904, he became Carpenter’s Mate in May 1910. He joined H.M.S. Medina on 10 October 1911, which ship conveyed the King and Queen to India for the Delhi Durbar. He received his L.S. & G.C. medal while serving in Imperieuse in March 1913 and, come the outbreak of war in 1914, Frank James was a Shipwright 1st Class aboard H.M.S. Leviathan, advancing to Chief Shipwright in the same ship in April 1915. He served briefly in Fisgard from August to November 1916, next joining Victory II before joining Caledon in March 1917. He advanced to Chief Shipwright in Caledon in October 1918 and remained in her until 31 December 1919, when he went to Victory III and was demobilised on 28 April 1920.

Sold with copied record of service.