Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Stoker Petty Officer W. H. Hawkins, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (299124 Sto. 1, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (299124 S.P.O., R.N.); Russia, St. George Medal for Bravery, 4th Class, silver, unnamed, reverse impressed, ‘No 1272871’, contact marks, some edge bruising, fine and better (4) £1200-1500

William Henry Hawkins was born in Lincoln on 13 November 1881. A Hawker by occupation. he joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on the Duke of Wellington on 9 May 1902. He was promoted to Stoker in November 1902 when on Hannibal and Stoker 1st Class in September 1906 when on Drake. He served throughout the war on the light cruiser Galatea. For a short period after being commissioned the ship was the leader of the 2nd Destoyer Flotilla at Hawich but during 1915-17 formed part of the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron with the Grand Fleet. On 4 May 1916 she took part in the shooting down of the zeppelin ‘L.7’. At the battle of Jutland she was flagship of the 1st L.C.S. and was the first to report the presence of German ships - thus triggering the action, and was the first British ship to be hit by an enemy shell during the battle. It was for this battle that Hawkins was awarded the Russian bravery medal. Hawkins was promoted to Leading Stoker in April 1916; Acting Stoker Petty Officer in July 1917 and Stoker Petty Officer in January 1918. Stoker Petty Officer Hawkins was invalided ashore on 7 December 1921.

With copied service paper.