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Auction: 22101 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 248

Four: Stoker Class II A. Bobbett, Royal Navy, who was killed in action aboard H.M.S. Monmouth at the Battle of Coronel on 1 November 1914

1914-15 Star (K.19166. A. Bobbett. Sto. 2, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (K.19166 A. Bobbett. Sto. 2 R.N.); Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Alfred Bobbett), the plaque a little worn, otherwise good very fine (4)

Alfred Bobbett was born at Barry, Glamorgan on 2 April 1895, the son of John and Emily Bobbett of Taunton. Listed as a Wagon Coupler on the 1911 census Bobbett enlisted for the Royal Navy on 2 May 1913 with the rank of Stoker Class II. He was posted to H.M.S. Monmouth a Monmouth-Class armoured cruiser, at this stage assigned to the Third Fleet. Mobilised on 4 August Monmouth was sent to 5th Cruiser Squadron but detached on 13 August to join Admiral Craddock's Squadron in hunting down the German commerce raiders off the coast of Brazil. Upon hearing that Admiral Von Spee's Squadron was attempting to round Cape Horn Craddock hurriedly assembled his ships, leaving the ageing Battleship Canopus behind he sailed for Coronel, Chile.

The Light Cruiser Glasgow, scouting ahead of the British fleet, picked up traces German radio transmissions sent from the S.M.S. Leipzig, at the same time a German supply vessel spotted the British ship and informed Von Spee. The result was that both fleets expected to encounter a single enemy vessel and advanced towards one another. Von Spee's ships outgunned the British vessels and were able to inflict heavy damage on both Monmouth and Good Hope before they closed to range with Gneisenau targeting Monmouth and managing to hit her forward turret. The resulting explosion blew the turret from the ship and caused significant damage, forcing Monmouth out of line, she managed to extinguish the fires but was listing badly when the Glasgow encountered her towards the end of the battle. The light cruiser Nurnberg encountered her listing too badly to target the enemy, they illuminated the Monmouth's colours, an accepted signal to surrender, however when she did not strike them, they opened fire aiming high at first. A sudden acceleration from Monmouth caused Nurnberg to open fire in earnest, Monmouth capsized at 21:58 with the loss of her entire crew of 734 including Bobbett. He is commemorated in the Plymouth Naval Memorial and the Barry Memorial Hall; sold together with a typed biographical note.

For the medals of his brother Albert John Bobbett see lot 450.

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Sold for
£700

Starting price
£240