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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 211

The China 1900 Medal awarded to Stoker H. Devlin of H.M.S. Fame, who was later Killed in Action at the Battle of Jutland on 1 June 1916

China 1900, 1 clasp, Taku Forts (H. Devlin, Sto., H.M.S. Fame.), contact marks and some edge wear, otherwise very fine

Henry Devlin was born at Queenstown, County Cork on 10 March 1880 and was a labourer when he joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 27 September 1898. Although borne on the books of Barfleur from 10 May 1900, Devlin was serving as a Stoker aboard the H.M.S. Fame at the capture of Taku Forts. Under the command of Lieutenant Roger Keyes, along with H.M.S. Whiting, Fame cut out four modern Chinese destroyers from the dockyard at the Taku Forts on 17 June, boarding the enemy vessels and taking them at the bayonet point.

Lieutenant Keyes described the action in his report to the Rear-Admiral:

"After a slight resistance and the exchange of a few shots, the crews were driven overboard or below hatches; there were a few killed and wounded; our casualties were nil. No damage was done to the prizes, but the Fame's bow was slightly bent when we closed to board, and the Whiting was struck by a projectile about 4 or 5 inches abreast a coal bunker. This was evidently fired from a mud battery on the bend between Taku and Tongku, which fired in all about 30 shots at us, none of the others striking, though several coming very close ... There was a good deal of sniping from the dockyard so I directed all cables of the prizes to be slipped and proceeded to tow them up to Tongku."

Devlin was convicted of smuggling and confined to the cells for 42 days on 31 December 1900.

Devlin was later killed in action at the Battle of Jutland on 1 June 1916 when H.M.S. Nessus was hit by a 5.9 in shell from the German dreadnought Grosser Kurfest. The shell killed two Officers and five Ratings according to Sub-Lieutenant Lees of Nessus. Devlin is commemorated upon the Plymouth Naval Memorial; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£550

Starting price
£180