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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 278

Four: Chief Petty Officer Cook A. W. Heuner, Royal Navy, who saw service at the Battle of Jutland aboard Princess Royal

1914-15 Star (M. 2276. A. W. Heuner. L. Ck. Mte., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M.2276 A. W. Heuner. L. Ck. Mte. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C. (M.2276 A. W. Heuner. L. Ck. H.M.S. Iron Duke.), polished, contact marks, edge bruising, overall nearly very fine (4)

Alfred William Heuner was born at Woolwich, Kent on 6 March 1892 and enlisted with the Royal Navy at President on 24 April 1908 as Boy Servant. Later transferred as a Probationary Cooks Mate to Victory I on 22 August 1910. His first positing afloat was H.M.S. Princess Royal on 13 November 1912 and advanced Leading Cooks Mate on 15 September 1913.

On the outbreak of the Great War Princess Royal was part of the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron, in this capacity she took part in the First Battle of Heligoland Bank before being posted to the Caribbean after the Battle of the Coronel. Returning to Britain after the destruction of the East Asia Squadron, Princess Royal arrived in time to take part in the Battle of Dogger Bank.

During the fighting she made several hits including one of Derfflinger and several on Blucher, the final hit on the latter being the shot which crippled it and caused its eventual sinking.

Heuner remained with Princess Royal and was present the next year when she again joined 1st Battlecruiser Squadron for the Battle of Jutland. She was second in the line and targeted Lutzow early in the battle hitting her only twice and causing little damage. Hit six times by Derfflinger she suffered some damage, but later managed to score a number of hits on Seydlitz causing serious damage. She fired 230 13.5 inch shells overall and was hit ten times.

Heuner remained with Princess Royal until almost end of the war, leaving her on 10 June 1918. He continued to serve, later promoted Petty Officer Cook on 2 October 1926 with H.M.S. Iron Duke and later Chief Petty Officer Cook with Barham on 16 October 1928; sold together with a postcard of Princess Royal and a shoulder patch as well as copied research including a Wikipedia entry on Princess Royal and service papers.

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Sold for
£130

Starting price
£130