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Auction: 25113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 390

Seven: Chief Petty Officer S. Hunt, Royal Navy, a Jutland Veteran who was aboard Falmouth when she was sunk during the Action of 19 August

1914-15 Star (194229, S. Hunt, P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (194229 S. Hunt. P.O. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (19422 Sidney Hunt, C.P.O., H.M.S. Erin.), minor official correction to surname on last, very fine (7)

Sidney Hunt was born in Aveley, Essex, on 9 December 1880 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 3 June 1897. Reaching his majority with Agincourt in December 1898, he was advanced Able Seaman with Cruizer in 1899. Serving with a variety of ships and shore establishment he was promoted Petty Officer on 7 February 1912 and the next year was posted to the town class cruiser, Falmouth.

He was still with this vessel, part of the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron, when the Grand Fleet engaged the German High Seas Fleet at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. Forming part of Beatty's fleet during the Run to the South, Falmouth was one of the ships to shoot at the cruiser Wiesbaden. She additionally targeted the Lutzow and Derfflinger, landing hits on both as well as hitting the cruiser Muchen and damaging her boilers. She sustained a shot to her foremast taking minor damage and fired a total of 175 shells during the battle, the most of any British Light Cruiser.

When the fleet put to sea again on 19 August in response to intelligence that the German fleet had again sallied, Falmouth was with them. Unfortunately, the German plan called for heavy support for their submarines and one of these, including U66 which managed to land two telling blows against Falmouth. These torpedoes did not sink her, and she remained afloat and under limited steam throughout the night but her slow progress took her under the sights of U63. Two more torpedoes struck her and she sank after a failing eight-hour battle to stabilise.

Seeing shore service from 23 August, Hunt was posted away to H.M.S. Erin on 18 December 1919 and was promoted Chief Petty Officer there on 1 May 1920. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 31 December 1920, being shore pensioned the following year.

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Estimate

Starting price
£80