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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 357

27 OCTOBER 1914: LOSS OF THE "AUDACIOUS"

An unusual Great War and Second World War campaign group of nine awarded to Able Seaman J. W. Brown, Royal Navy, who was awarded - and retained - both the R.F.R. and R.N. long service medals

He was also a survivor of the much-photographed loss of H.M.S. Audacious in the Irish Sea in October 1914, on which occasion the Titanic's sister ship, R.M.S. Olympic, joined the rescue operations, an exercise said to have been captured on film by some of the White Star liner's passengers

When, at length, the Audacious capsized, a massive explosion tore through the ship, hurling debris in all directions: on the cruiser Liverpool - some 800 yards away - an unfortunate Petty Officer was struck by a piece of armoured plating and killed outright

1914-15 Star (16359 J. W. Brown, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (16359 J. W. Brown, A.B., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., coinage head (J. 15359 (Po. B. 15525) J. W. Brown, A.B., R.F.R.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (JY. 142613 J. W. Brown, A.B., H.M.S. Irwell), with card boxes of issue for both Long Service Medals, the R.F.R. issue with related forwarding letter and registered package, together with O.H.M.S. card forwarding box for the Second War awards addressed to 'Mr. J. W. Brown, 160 Derby Road, Weasle, Salford 5, Lancashire', generally very fine and better (9)

James William Brown was born in Thetford, Norfolk on 10 August 1894 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in March 1912. His first seagoing appointment was in H.M.S. Audacious, which dreadnought battleship he joined in October 1913, but it was to prove a short-lived appointment.

Loss of the "Audacious"

In mid-October 1914, as part of the 2nd Battle Squadron, Audacious was ordered to Loch na Keal on the west coast of Scotland, Admiral Jellicoe having deemed Scapa Flow's defences inadequate against enemy submarines.

A week or so later, on the 27th, during a gunnery exercise off Tory Island, Ireland, Audacious struck a mine. The explosion occurred well under the ship, thereby failing to cause casualties, but serious flooding ensued, and she listed 15-degrees to port. The cruiser Liverpool and the squadron's destroyers stood by and were soon joined by the Titanic's sister ship Olympic.

A subsequent attempt to take Audacious in tow ended in failure and all but 250 of her complement were picked up by boat. Then at 1815 hours, as darkness loomed, her skeleton crew was likewise evacuated. Just over two hours later, Audacious capsized, floating upside down for about 15 minutes before finally succumbing to a massive explosion. Debris was hurled far and wide, one unfortunate Petty Officer aboard the Liverpool being killed outright by a piece of armoured plating.

Subsequent career - long service rewarded in kind

Brown returned to sea in the battleship Queen Elizabeth in December 1914 and remained similarly employed until coming ashore in August 1917, in which period he witnessed extensive action in the Dardanelles and off Gallipoli. His final wartime seagoing appointment was in the destroyer Rosalind, from December 1917 until January 1919.

Having then served in the submarine branch, Brown came ashore and enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve. He was duly awarded the R.F.R. L.S. & G.C. Medal in April 1933, the forwarding letter stating:

'In the event of your re-entering the Royal Navy and qualifying for the "Active Service" Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and Gratuity, you will be required to surrender the Royal Fleet Reserve Medal on being awarded the higher medal.'

As it transpired, Brown did indeed re-enter the Royal Navy - in March 1934 - when he was
allocated the number P/JX. 142613. And further active service in the Second World War aside, he was awarded the Royal Navy L.S. & G.C. in December 1944, whilst serving in the drillship Irwell. He had clearly forgotten the letter he received in April 1933 - which is included in the Lot - or chose to ignore it, for both awards remained in his possession.

Postscript

Today, the wreck of the Audacious lies around 65 metres below the surface, about 17 miles north-east of Tory Island, Co. Donegal.

The wreck was filmed for the television show 'Deep Wreck Mysteries' on the History Channel in 2008.

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Sold for
£250

Starting price
£220