Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Petty Officer F. Cole, Royal Navy - a veteran of the battles of Coronel, Falkland Islands and Jutland, who later survived the loss of the ‘Glatton’

1914-15 Star (J.13083 A.B. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.13083 L.S. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (J.13083 P.O. H.M.S. Lucia) mounted as worn, contact marks, fine (4) £200-250

Frederick Cole was born in Bournemouth, Hampshire on 28 July 1895. A Plumber’s Mate by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in July 1911. He was advanced to Boy 1st Class in January 1912 and promoted to Ordinary Seaman in July 1913. He served on the light cruiser H.M.S. Glasgow, September 1913-January 1916 and was promoted to Able Seaman in August 1914. On board the ship he saw action at the battle of Coronel, 1 November 1914 and the battle of Falkland Islands, 8 December 1914. He then served on the destroyer H.M.S. Porpoise, May 1916-October 1917, on which ship he saw action at the battle of Jutland, 31 May/1 June 1916. He was promoted to Leading Seaman in December 1916. After service on the destroyer H.M.S. Vortigern, January-July 1918, Cole was posted to the monitor H.M.S. Glatton on 31 August 1918; service on which came to an abrupt end when the ship was sunk by an internal explosion at Dover on 16 September 1918. If Cole’s war had not already been interesting enough, during November 1918-December 1920 he served on the light cruiser H.M.S. Carlisle, travelling to China and Vladivostok. After such an eventful war, Cole was first posted to the relative calm of coastal motor boats, April 1921-October 1922, before serving on the destroyer H.M.S. Worcester, October 1922-March 1925, on which ship he was advanced to Acting Petty Officer in December 1924. Service on the surface having become tame, Cole then volunteered for the submarine service in May 1925, being based on H.M.S. Dolphin and serving on the L.23 and L.22. He attained the rank of Petty Officer in December 1925 and in 1928 he was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal when serving on the submarine depot ship H.M.S. Lucia. With copied service papers and other research.