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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 242

The 1914-15 Star to Stoker 1st Class J. Pierce, Royal Navy who was killed in action on 31 May 1916 whilst serving on H.M.S. Shark during the Battle of Jutland, an action which saw the gallant Captain, Commander Loftus William Jones, earn a posthumous Victoria Cross

1914-15 Star (K.26496, J .Pierce, STO.1, R.N.), very fine

James Pierce was born at Liverpool on 2 November 1892 and was a labourer prior to joining the Royal Navy on 26 May 1915. He was posted to H.M.S. Shark on 22 September 1915 and was killed in action during the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916.

An Extract from the Official History; Naval Operations by Sir Julian S. Corbett, 1923, refers to Shark's fate:

'When Admiral Hood turned to the rescue of the Chester his four destroyers were left on his port quarter, and they soon caught sight of the German cruisers running towards them south-east, half hidden by shell splashes. The division was led by Commander Loftus Jones in the Shark, the same intrepid officer who by his resolute dogging of Admiral von Ingenohl's cruiser screen at dawn on the day of the Scarborough raid had caused the whole High Seas Fleet to turn back to its base. Seeing the excellent chance that had fallen to him, he led off to make the most of it, followed by the Acasta (Lieutenant-Commander J. O. Barron), Ophelia (Commander L. G. E. Crabbe)-both officers had been with him in his previous exploit-and the Christopher (Lieutenant-Commander F. M. Kerr). As they approached they could see that ahead of the flying cruisers a number of enemy destroyers were evidently developing an attack on Admiral Hood, but as soon as the Germans were aware of the Shark's direction they turned to protect Admiral Boedicker.

A very hot engagement was the result. The Shark got off a torpedo at one of the cruisers, but she was quickly smothered with the fire of the squadron and its destroyers, and by the time Commander Jones knew he had frustrated the attack on Admiral Hood and had turned back, his boat was brought to a standstill. His old comrade, Lieutenant-Commander Barron, rushed up to take him in tow, but he would not hear of the Acasta, which was also badly damaged, being sunk for him, and ordered her to leave him. At this moment Captain P. M. R. Royds in the Canterbury appeared coming up to the rescue from the southeast. By turning to the southward he enticed the cruisers to chase, and for a while the Shark was left in peace. Presently, however, more destroyers, which Admiral Hipper had ordered to attack Admiral Hood in order to cover his retirement, came up and poured in a merciless fire. In a moment her after gun was hit, and its crew killed, and Commander Jones, who was himself controlling its fire, had a leg shot away at the knee. Yet he continued to encourage his men to fight the only gun he had left, when the Shark went down with her flag still flying'.

Commander Loftus William Jones R.N. was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. Pierce is commemorated upon the Portsmouth Naval Memorial; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£100

Starting price
£40