Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Chief Stoker J. C. Deed, Royal Navy, who survived the sinking of H.M.S. Hawke on 14 October 1914, one of only 70 survivors out of a crew of almost 600

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Natal (283151 Sto: J. C. Deed, H:M.S. Terrible.) impressed naming; China 1900, 1 clasp, Taku Forts (J. C. Deed, St., H.M.S. Whiting.); British War and Victory Medals (283151 J. C. Deed. Ch. Sto. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (283151. J. C. Deed, Ch. Sto. H.M.S. Diligence.) contact marks and edge bruising, nearly very fine and better (5) £600-£800

Approximately 55 China Medals with the single clasp ‘Taku Forts’ awarded to H.M.S. Whiting.

John Crisp Deed was born in Sudbury, Suffolk, on 27 June 1878 and attested for the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class on 25 August 1896. He served in H.M.S. Terrible during the Boer War from 14 September 1899 to 9 May 1900, and then during the Boxer Rebellion he served aboard the destroyer H.M.S. Whiting (although borne on the books of H.M.S. Centurion) from 10 May 1900 to 18 April 1901, for which he was awarded the Queen’s medal with clasp for Taku Forts. He was advanced Chief Stoker on 16 April 1913, and served during the Great War initially in H.M.S. Hawke, and was one of only 70 survivors (out of a crew of nearly 600) who survived her sinking on 14 October 1914, after being torpedoed by the German submarine U-9. (also entitled to a 1914-15 Star). He subsequently served in H.M.S. Pembroke II and H.M.S. Diligence, the latter ship from 15 November 1915 to 17 October 1918. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 30 April 1918, and was shore invalided to pension on 12 March 1919.

Sold with a small photograph of the recipient in later life and copied service papers.

Note: A duplicate Queen’s South Africa Medal and a China Medal were issued in 1915.