Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 250

The N.G.S.M. awarded to Stoker C. E. Uprichard, Royal Navy, who was Killed in Action in 1914 when H.M.S. Hawke was sunk in the North Sea

Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (SS.108911. C. E. Uprichard, Sto. 1 Cl., H.M.S. Alert.), good very fine

Charles Edward Uprichard was born at Lurgan, Antrim and enlisted as Stoker Class II on 16 July 1909. Advanced Stoker Class I with Black Prince the next year he was posted to Alert on 27 February 1912 when she was patrol the Red Sea for slavers and gun runners. Remaining with her until 1914 Uprichard was discharged in July and joined the Royal Fleet Reserve in August.

With the outbreak of the Great War, he was mobilised for service and posted to the aging cruiser Hawke. She was patrolling the North Sea on 15 October 1914 when she slowed her pace to pick up mail from a steamship. Unfortunately at the moment she slowed she opened herself up to U-9, the U-boat responsible for the Action of 22 September, which had been stalking her.

A torpedo struck Hawke on her starboard causing a major explosion, the crew leapt to collision stations but in moments she was listing. The torpedo had caused major damage and she rolled over and sank extremely quickly with just 70 officers and men surviving, thanks to the aid of a Norwegian vessel.

Uprichard was not amongst them having been killed during the sinking, he is commemorated upon the Chatham Naval Memorial; sold together with copied research.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£270

Starting price
£80