A good Great War C.B.E. group of six awarded to Rear-Admiral H. Blackett, Royal Navy, a son in law of “Jackie” Fisher who won a “mention” and the Order of St. Vladimir for his command of the cruiser H.M.S. Duke of Edinburgh at Jutland
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 1st type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; 1914-15 Star (Capt. H. Blackett, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. H. Blackett, R.N,); Coronation 1911, a fine quality tailor’s copy; Russia, Order of St. Vladimir, Fourth Class breast badge, with swords, 35 x 35mm., gold and enamel, manufacturer’s name on reverse unclear, possibly Eduard, and kokoshnik marks for 1908-17 on the sword hilts, generally good very fine or better (6) £2500-3000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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C.B.E. London Gazette 27 May 1919.

Henry Blackett was born in Staines, Surrey in November 1867 and entered the Royal Navy as a cadet in Britannia in January 1881. Appointed a Midshipman in May 1883, while serving in the Nelson on the Australian Station, he was advanced to Sub. Lieutenant in May 1887 and given command of the torpedo boat No. 62 for the Jubilee Review. Enjoying wide and varied service and steady promotion over the next two decades, he was advanced to Captain in December 1907 and given command of the cruiser Duke of Edinburgh on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914.

Blackett and his crew subsequently participated in the search for the Goeben and Breslau and passed the latter part of 1914 on convoy duty between Karachi and Suez, on one occasion being diverted with three transports to deal with a strong Turkish-Arab force assembling near Sheikh Syed, just outside Aden, and to destroy the coastal fort at Turba. The latter was duly destroyed and the enemy force dispersed by Indian troops landed from the transports on 8 November - Blackett was commended for his valuable assistance by Brigadier-General Cox.

Returning to the Grand Fleet, Duke of Edinburgh was present at Jutland, where, it transpired, she was the only survivor from the ill-fated First Cruiser Squadron, her consorts Defence, Warrior and Black Prince all being sunk by Vice-Admiral Hipper’s battle cruisers and Rear-Admiral Behncke’s Third Battle Squadron - the light armour of the British cruisers was no match for the 11 and 12-inch guns of the enemy ships which quickly found the range and repeatedly registered hits. The Defence and the Black Prince blew up taking 91 officers and 1660 ratings to their death, while the Warrior, with over 100 killed and wounded, was more fortunate and able to transfer most of her crew to the Engadine before sinking. Blackett in Duke of Edinburgh most likely escaped a similar fate as a result of his engine room staff working the engines up to 22 knots, the same speed achieved on her 8-hour full power trials in 1905, some 11 years earlier. He also managed to avoid a torpedo. Duly commended and mentioned in despatches, he was also awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th Class, with swords ‘For distinguished service rendered in the battle of Jutland’ (London Gazette 5 June 1917 refers).

Honours and awards aside, Blackett’s command of the Duke of Edinburgh ended under a cloud in September 1916, when he threatened to place one of his officers in irons for showing contempt for his Captain. Their Lordships found that the officer in question had been subjected to significant provocation and his senior was temporarily suspended from seagoing duties. Nonetheless, in May 1917, he was given command of the cruiser Cumberland, in which capacity he served for the remainder of the War and was awarded his C.B.E.

Placed on the Retired List as a Rear-Admiral in February 1919, Blackett, onetime a Lieutenant of the City of London and an honorary member of the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, died in December 1952, aged 85 years.

See lot 483 for recipient’s miniature medals.