Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Stoker A. Haire, Royal Navy, who was awarded the Russian Medal for Zeal for his services in H.M.S. Jupiter in 1915, and died on 2 November 1918

1914-15 Star (SS.101089, A. Haire. Sto.1. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (S.S 101089 A. Haire. Sto.1 R.N.); Russia, Empire, Medal for Zeal, Nicholas II, small silver medal (S.S. 101089. A. Haire., Sto. 1Cl. H.M.S. Jupiter.) very fine (4) £600-£800

Albert Frederick Haire, a native of Belfast, joined the Royal Navy and served as a Stoker 1st Class during the Great War in the Tyne Guard Ship H.M.S. Jupiter. In January 1915 the Admiralty received a request for assistance from the Russian Government, as their icebreaker used to keep open the passage to Archangel in the White Sea had broken down. In response the Royal Navy sent out H.M.S. Jupiter, an old Majestic-class battleship. She departed for Archangel in February 1915, freeing en route a number of vessels stuck in the ice, occasionally by using explosive charges. She, too, sometimes became icebound, but still managed to make a major impression on the problem, improving the safe passage of numerous vessels, many of them laden with highly important war materials, among them the S.S. Thracia. The latter was taken in tow after the use of explosive charges to free her. Throughout these operations it was not unusual for the temperature to fall as low as minus 20 degrees, a hard test indeed on the morale and well being of the Jupiter’s crew. Her mission completed by May 1915, the Tzar expressed his gratitude by the presentation of a variety of Russian Honours and Awards to her crew.

Jupiter was torpedoed and sunk by an enemy submarine on 21 May 1917, with the loss of 19 crew, although it is not known whether Haire was still serving in her at the time. He subsequently served in H.M. Motor Lighter X216, and died on 2 November 1918. He is buried in St. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, France.