The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

Four: Blacksmith H. Langmead, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (141980 Blk., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (141980 Blk., R.N.); Russia, Medal for Zeal, Nicholas II, silver breast medal (141980 H. Langmead, Blksh., H.M.S. Jupiter), on ‘St. Anne’ ribbon, mounted court style for wear, cleaned, good very fine (4) £450-550

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

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In January 1915 the Admiralty received a request for assistance from the Russian Government, the latter’s icebreaker used to keep open the passage to Archangel in the White Sea having broken down. In response the Royal Navy sent out the Tyne Guard Ship 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.

Harry Langmead was born in Dartmouth, Devon on 9 February 1864. He enlisted into the Royal Navy on 8 September 1887. Rated as Blacksmith’s Crew aboard Indus in April 1888, he was promoted to Blacksmith in October 1889 when on the same vessel. Blacksmith Langmead was pensioned ashore on 6 September 1909 but returned to service during the Great War. He served on Jupiter, August 1914-May 1915 and was subsequently awarded the Russian Medal of Zeal. Blacksmith Langmead was demobilised on 5 February 1919. With copied service papers and other research.