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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 319

A Great War campaign group of four awarded to Chief Petty Officer J. Neil, Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. Warspite at the battle of Jutland

On that memorable occasion, the Warspite was hit by no less than 13 'large projectiles', several of them after her helm jammed: making an involuntary circle at 'Windy Corner', she became the prime target of the big guns of the German High Seas Fleet and suffered casualties of 14 killed and 32 wounded

1914-15 Star (178651 J. Neil, C.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (178651 J. Neil, C.P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (178651 John Neil, P.O. 1Cl., H.M.S. Cumberland), generally good very fine (4)

John Neil was born in Baylick, Cork, Ireland in November 1877 and entered the Royal Navy as Boy 2nd Class in January 1894. Having been advanced to Petty Officer 1st Class, he joined H.M.S. Cumberland in September 1911 and was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in February 1914.

By the outbreak of hostilities, he was serving in the battleship Superb but in April 1915, he removed to another battleship - the Warspite - and he remained similarly employed for the remainder of the war.

Jutland

As part of the 5th Battle Squadron, Warspite was hit by no less than 13 'large projectiles', several of them after her helm jammed and forced her out of line; making an involuntary circle at 'Windy Corner', she became the prime target of the 'big guns' of the High Seas Fleet.

Warspite's Executive Officer was sent to inspect the damage:

'His 26-page narrative of his between-decks steeplechase around the battleship's accumulating scenes of carnage - with its terse references to fire, smoke, darkness, chasms awaiting the unwary, escaping steam, electrical shocks, flooding, terrible injuries and incidental absurdities - provides a nightmare glimpse of the realities of modern naval action' (The Rules of the Game, by James Gordon, refers).

A glimpse of the Warspite's casualties is to be found in the words of E.R.A. 1st Class Thomas Collins:

'Later, when we were safely housed in a dry dock, there was a poignant scene as crowds of dockyard workers gathered on the dockside to watch the dead and wounded being carried over the gangways. The ship's male voice choir, led by their conductor, a Welsh stoker, sang 'Comrades in Arms' while this was being done. Many strong men broke down and wept. After the dead had all been carried ashore it was now the turn of the wounded. I was standing beside the Reverend Walter Carey at this time and a stretcher was being carried past with a body completely swathed in bandages with only holes for mouth, nose and eyes. As the stretcher passed, we heard a voice saying, "God bless Warspite" and recognised it as that of Father Poland who was badly burned trying to save the men in the 6" Battery deck when the cordite ammunition was set on fire. Carey broke down and wept like a child.'

Neil was demobilised as a Chief Petty Officer in March 1919.


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Sold for
£380

Starting price
£110