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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 259

The Defence suddenly disappeared in an immense column of smoke and flame, hundreds of feet high. It appeared to be an absolutely instantaneous destruction, the ship seeming to be dismembered at once. Wreckage continued to fall into the water for quite a considerable time after the explosion, but when the smoke cleared, there was absolutely nothing to be seen, where only a minute before had been the Defence.

(The words of an officer aboard Malaya on the sinking of H.M.S. Defence at the Battle of Jutland)

The tragic British War Medal awarded to Boy Class I G. L. Hattin, Royal Navy, one of 49 teenagers of this rank killed when Defence vanished in a ball of fire, he was just 17 at the time

British War Medal 1914-20 (J31372 G. L. Hattin. Boy 1. R.N.), minor edge wear, very fine

George Linkworth Hattin was born at Croydon in 28 July 1899 and enlisted with the Royal Navy at the training ship Powerful on 25 May 1914. Posted to the training establishment Defiance on January 1915 he was soon given his first real post with the armoured cruiser Defence on 15 February.

During the Battle of Jutland she served as the Flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot, commanding 1st Cruiser Squadron. This unit was assigned to Jellicoe's fleet at Jutland and was present when they combined with Beatty's Battlecruisers as they withdrew before the German High Seas Fleet.

The outdated armoured cruisers of the 1st Cruiser Squadron had formed a screening force before the British fleet, and as the enemy approached, began to withdraw and clear the field of fire for the more powerful battleships. Unfortunately Arbuthnot spotted the German 2nd Scouting Group approaching, with the seriously damaged Wiesbaden present. This target proved too tempting and at Arbuthnot's order Defence, bringing Warrior in tow powered towards the enemy line in a mad rush.

Heavy fire was soon directed their way while the two cruisers hammered shot after shot into the crippled Wiesbaden. Her destruction was assured but even then Arbuthnot held his course and Defence pushed closer and closer to its stricken prey. By now the weight of fire had increased dramatically as the German line moved to protect its burning light cruiser.

The two British vessels were hit again and again and then, as she rounded the bow of Lion a salvo caught Defence square on. She was immolated in a moment, with a pillar of smoke and fire thrown into the sky. None of her 903 crew survived the sudden holocaust, with Hattin being amongst the casualties. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated upon the Chatham Naval Memorial. Hattin was one of only 49 men with the rank of Boy Class I aboard; sold together with typed research and copied research including a Commonwealth War Graves certificate, casualty list and extracts from World War One An Illustrated History in colour 1914-1918, The Illustrated Guide to Cruisers and a handwritten extract from Jutland 1916 as well as information on the cruiser Defence.

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Sold for
£130

Starting price
£20