Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas

The important G.C.B., Great War K.C.M.G. and K.C.V.O. group of twelve awarded to Admiral Sir William Pakenham, British observer with the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Russo-Japanese War 1904-05, he was Commanding Officer of the 3rd Cruiser Squadron at Jutland and afterwards of the Battle Cruiser Fleet

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, G.C.B. (Military) Knight Grand Cross set of insignia, comprising sash badge, silver-gilt and enamels, with gold centres; and breast star, silver, with gold and enamel appliqué centre, with display sash; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, K.C.M.G., Knight Commander’s set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, with gold centres; and breast star, silver, with gold and enamel centre; The Royal Victorian Order, K.C.V.O., Knight Commander’s set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, reverse numbered ‘K324’; and breast star, silver, silver-gilt and enamels, reverse numbered ‘324’; 1914-15 Star (R. Adml. W. C. Pakenham, C.B., M.V.O.); British War and Victory Medals (V. Adml. Sir W. C. Pakenham); United States of America, Distinguished Service Medal, Navy, silver-gilt and enamels; France, Croix de Guerre, 1914-1917,with Palm these last five mounted court-style as worn; France, Legion of Honour, Commander’s neck badge, gold and enamels, upper arms and both wreaths with chips; Japan, Order of the Rising Sun, Second Class set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, with central cabochon; and breast star, silver, gilt and enamel, centre with cabochon; Japan, Order of the Excellent Crop, Grand Cordon set of insignia, comprising sash badge, silver-gilt and enamels; and breast star, silver, gilt and enamels, complete with full sash; Russia, Order of St. Stanislas, Grand Cross set of, insignia by Edouard, Military Division, comprising sash badge, gold and enamels, lower arm chipped; and breast star, silver, with gilt and enamel centre, with display sash, unless otherwise described, generally good very fine (18) £8,000-£12,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

View
Collection

G.C.B. London Gazette 3 June 1925; Admiral Sir, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O.

K.C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1919: ‘In recognition of valuable services rendered during the War’; Vice-Admiral Sir, K.C.B., K.C.V.O.

K.C.V.O. London Gazette 3 July 1917: ‘On the occasion of His Majesty’s recent visit to the Grand Fleet’; Rear-Admiral Sir, K.C.B., M.V.O.

Legion of Honour London Gazette 28 August 1918; Rear-Admiral Sir, K.C.B., K.C.V.O.

Croix de Guerre London Gazette 15 February 1919; Vice-Admiral Sir, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O.

Order of the Rising Sun London Gazette 20 April 1906; Captain, C.B., R.N., Naval Attache, Tokyo.

Order of the Excellent Crop London Gazette 27 January 1920; Vice-Admiral Sir, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O.

Order of St. Stanislaus London Gazette 8 June 1917: ‘For distinguished service rendered in the Battle of Jutland’; Rear-Admiral, K.C.B., M.V.O.

United States of America D.S.M. London Gazette 29 September 1922; Admiral Sir, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O.

William Pakenham, the second son of Rear-Admiral the Hon. Thomas Pakenham, was born in London on 10 July 1861, and entered Britannia in 1874. Promoted Midshipman in 1876, he went to sea in the Monarch in the Mediterranean, and the next year was transferred to the Frigate Raleigh. In August 1878, as the ship was leaving Larnaka, Cyprus, the Coxswain fell overboard. Pakenham and an Able Seaman dived in after him and were afterwards highly commended for their gallantry in rescuing him. In September 1879 Pakenham joined the Alexandra, Flagship successively of Sir Phillip Hornby and Sir F. Seymour, and stayed in her until promotion to Sub-Lieutenant in October 1880. Having undergone the Gunnery Course in Excellent at Portsmouth, he returned to the Alexandra before being appointed to the Canada, which was destined to join the North America Squadron. In this ship Pakenham was the ‘strict though benevolent autocrat’ in charge of the Gun-room Mess, which counted among its members Prince George (later George V). He became Lieutenant in 1883 and next served as Flag-Lieutenant to Admiral Sir George Tryon during his command of the Australia Station from 1884 to 1887. The next nine years were spent in small Cruisers in the Training Squadron, and in one of these, the Calypso, he distinguished himself by a brave attempt to save the life of a Petty Officer who had fallen from the foreyard into Kiel Harbour. Promoted Commander in June 1896, and having qualified as an interpreter in French while on Half-pay in 1884, he was selected for duty in Naval Intelligence from 1899 to 1901. He then commanded the Sloop Daphne on the China Station, and briefly served in command of the Flagship Albion, before returning home again in 1902.

At this time, war between Russia and Japan was imminent, and Pakenham’s Intelligence experience combined with his linguistic abilities marked him out as the Officer to succeed Captain Ernest Troubridge, who was due for relief as Naval Attache in Japan. War finally broke out on 6 February 1904; Pakenham arrived in March, taking Troubridge’s place in the battleship Asahi, in which he remained continuously until the final Japanese victory at the battle of Tsushima on 27 May 1905. Indeed, it was said of Pakenham that no British Sea Officer since Nelson had been so long afloat without setting foot on shore. His sangfroid under fire greatly impressed the men of the Japanese Navy: at the Battle of Tsushima, the casemate on which he was standing to observe the proceedings was struck by a shell causing several casualties, and his white uniform was splashed with blood. Deeming it inappropriate to continue, he quietly slipped away, only to return a few minutes later in spotless attire and to resume taking his notes. His reports to the Admiralty throughout the War were brilliantly written and revealed a thorough appreciation of the strategic, tactical, and technical implications of the events and situations which he described. His disdainful attitude to personal danger led to Admiral Togo’s recommendation to the Emperor that he should be given the Rising Sun, and his observations for the Admiralty resulted in him being ‘specially appointed C.B.’ soon after the Battle.

Upon returning to England he was successively appointed to the command of the Antrim, the Glory, the Triumph, and the Collingwood. In December 1911, Winston Churchill (who later paid tribute to him in his book of 1923, The World Crisis), in reconstituting his Board soon after taking office, selected him to be the Fourth Sea Lord owing to his ‘strong character’ and ‘unique experience of modern naval warfare’. Advanced to Flag Rank in 1913, he left the Board to take command of the 3rd Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet, with his Flag in his old ship Antrim, in which he narrowly missed being torpedoed by a U-boat on 9 October 1914. In March 1915, with his flag in the Australia, he took charge of one of the two Battle-Cruiser Squadrons which belonged to the Australian Commonwealth, and which had been lent for service in the Grand Fleet after the victory of the Falkland Islands. Accordingly, he held the titular appointment of Rear-Admiral Commanding the Australian Fleet.

During the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, Pakenham flew his Flag in the New Zealand, the Australia having been damaged in a collision with the New Zealand in a fog a month earlier. His remaining ship, the Indefatigable, was blown up early in the battle. Pakenham distinguished himself at Jutland with his able support of Beatty and was rewarded with the K.C.B., being personally decorated with that Order and the K.C.V.O. by his former Gunroom Mess mate, King George V, on the occasion of his visit to Rosyth in 1917. When Beatty was promoted to succeed Sir John Jellicoe, he recommended Pakenham over the heads of other Senior Officers with strong claims, to follow him in command of the Battle-Cruiser Force. On the appointment being confirmed, Pakenham transferred his Flag to the Lion in January 1917 and retained that command until April 1919, having been promoted Vice-Admiral in September 1918 and having been present at the surrender of the German Fleet.

During the War years he showed another aspect of his somewhat eccentric character by always sleeping fully clothed, and by having all the furniture in his quarters burnt, together with all inflammable articles in the ship, in order to prevent the danger of fire during an action. He kept only a chair in his bridge cabin. In August 1919, Pakenham was appointed President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, but at his own request was soon given another appointment as Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station, in October 1920. Promoted full Admiral in 1922, he retired in 1926 and in 1930 became Bath King of Arms. Admiral Pakenham was ‘a character’ who was ‘whole-heartedly devoted to the Service’; he died at San Sebastian in 1933.

Sold with Granton Naval Base Zeal Medal, silver, reverse engraved, ‘Vice-Admiral Sir William C. Pakenham, K.C.B., K.C.V.O., 12 November 1918’; and Jutland Commemorative Medal, silver, by Spink.

The Order of the Excellent Crop (later known as Golden Grain) is of course from China not Japan
Provenance Spink Auction, December 1997, as Japan