The James Fox Collection of Naval Awards

James Fox

Musing on how I came to collect medals to the Royal Navy, perhaps the display of military medals in the local public library nearly 80 years ago was the origin. Family holidays in Norfolk, a visit to Burnham Thorpe church and seeing the Spanish admiral's sword in Norwich Castle Museum sparked interest in Horatio Nelson and the Navy. This was against the background of my formative years coinciding with the Second World War.

Family priorities and other interests meant it was 2005 when the bi-centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar set me off in an attempt to form a medallic history of the Royal Navy from Nelson's time onwards. Had I realised then just how ambitious this was I may have had second thoughts. However, I feel it has been a worthwhile attempt despite the many gaps. I have been humbled by being custodian of medals representing much sacrifice and bravery. My interest has concentrated on ships and engagements from the Nile to Afghanistan. The importance of accurate gunnery is represented by the Naval Good Shooting Medal (Lots 51 to 65), and wartime events as demonstrated by the actions of H.M.S. Warspite at the Battle of Cape Matapan (Lot 101).

I have mentally 'stood at the shoulder’ of the marine who may have guarded Nelson's cabin in 1798 (Lot 4); the officer who found his light cruiser faced by German battlecruisers in 1916 (Lot 80); the telegraphist who had to abandon his ship in Russia in 1919 (Lot 87); the seaman in a 'little ship' at Dunkirk (Lot 93); the chief stoker nursing his battleship's fuel consumption as she overcame the Bismark in 1941 (Lot 106); and the air gunner in a swordfish biplane which sank a U-Boat in 1944 (Lot 118).

I feel apologetic for having only three groups to women. Such groups are elusive, not for lack of enterprise or courage bur for lack of opportunity to qualify for medals. This has now changed with the integration of women in crews at sea. However, to help rectify this shortcoming in my collecting these three groups have been given pride of place at the start of my collection.
Jim Fox
October 2023