Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Lieutenant-Commander W. H. J. Parkin, Royal Navy, who was awarded the Delhi Durbar Medal 1911 for his services in conveying H.M. King George V and the Royal party to India in the Royal Yacht H.M.S. Medina, and subsequently served in H.M.S. St. Vincent at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, where he suffered shell-shock

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (W. H. J. Parkin, P.O. 1Cl., H.M.S. Gibraltar.); 1914-15 Star (Gnr. W. H. J. Parkin. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Ch. Gnr. W. H. J. Parkin. R.N.); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued, good very fine, the Delhi Durbar scarce to Naval personnel (5) £400-£500

William Henry John Parkin was born in Alverstoke, Hampshire, on 31 December 1878; a former Greenwich Hospital Scholar he entered the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. St Vincent on 10 July 1894. Rated Ordinary Seaman in H.M.S. Imperieuse on 3 March 1896, he was advanced Able Seaman in H.M.S. Comus on 1 December 1897; Leading Seaman in H.M.S. Trafalgar on 24 August 1899; Petty Officer Second Class in H.M.S. Excellent on 7 June 1900; and Petty Officer First Class in H.M.S. Duke of Wellington on 17 June 1900. Joining H.M.S. Gibraltar on 5 March 1901, he served in South Africa during the Boer War.

Transferring to H.M.S. Excellent on 14 May 1902, Parkin was promoted to Gunner (Warrant Officer) in H.M.S. Excellent on 28 May 1903. Appointed to H.M.S. Medina on 10 November 1910, he received the Delhi Durbar Medal 1911 for his services in this ship, which was converted to a Royal Yacht to convey H.I.M. King George V and the Royal party to India, one of 285 such awards to Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

Parkin was appointed to command Torpedo Boat 57 and then, on 28 January 1913, to command Torpedo Boat 78. Appointed to the dreadnought battleship H.M.S. St Vincent on 14 April 1914, he served in her throughout the Great War and was present at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, where she engaged the German battlecruiser SMS Moltke, and fired a total of 98 twelve-inch shells during the Battle. On 4 August 1916 he was admitted to Haslar Naval Hospital with Neurasthenia (Shell shock), probably the result of his experiences at Jutland having suffered the condition for 4 weeks, and was discharged to duty on 15 August 1916. Promoted Chief Gunner on 29 May 1918, he was commissioned Lieutenant on 12 August 1922 and placed on the retired list on 31 December 1928. Promoted Lieutenant-Commander on the retired list on 12 August 1930, he died in 1958.

Sold with copied record of service, medal roll extracts, and other research.