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Auction: 22103 - Orders, Decorations and Medals VII - e-Auction
Lot: 460

'The world should know how Hartlepool coped, we're tough you know and what happened that day, we all got back on our feet in no time - good people, tough folk.'

Myra Docherty, a survivor of German bombardment of Hartlepool, speaks her mind.

The campaign group of nine awarded to Able Seaman P. G. Parry, Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. Patrol on the occasion of the Imperial German Navy's infamous action off Hartlepool on 16 December 1914

On that date, in an act that attracted outrage on an international scale, Admiral Hipper's cruisers indiscriminately bombarded the seaside towns of Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby: 137 people were killed, including 78 women and children, and 592 people injured, including 228 women and children, the vast majority of them from Hartlepool

1914-15 Star (J. 23198 P. G. Parry. Ord., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J. 23198 P. G. Parry. A.B. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star, clasp, Pacific; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (J. 23198 (Ch. B. 20036) P. G. Parry. A.B. R.F.R.), mounted for wear, the Trio very fine, remainder better (9)

Percy Gilbert Parry was born in North Kensington on 1 April 1897 and was an errand boy upon his joining the Royal Navy on 11 February 1913. He served aboard Patrol from 22 October 1914-4 August 1918.

A dark day in the history of the Imperial German Navy

In the early morning hours of 16 December 1914, Admiral Hipper's plan to bombard the seaside towns of Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby came to fruition, when he divided his cruisers into two forces: The Seydlitz, Blücher and Moltke proceeded to Hartlepool, while the Derfflinger, Von der Tann and Kolberg proceeded to Scarborough. The latter force shelled the town from 8 a.m. until 9.30 a.m. and caused a number of civilian casualties. It then proceeded to Whitby, where the abbey and coast guard station came under fire.

It was at Hartlepool, however, that the most serious damage was inflicted, the indiscriminate broadsides of the Seydlitz, Blücher and Moltke causing civilian casualties of 86 killed and 424 injured. Further evidence of the ferocity of the bombardment may be found in damage inflicted on the town's infrastructure, dozens of buildings - and seven churches - being demolished or damaged: in total more than 1100 shells rained down on the town in just 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, Admiralty intelligence had offered an opportunity for Admiral Warrender to intervene with his battleships and cruisers from Scapa; Patrol and Forward had remained at Hartlepool. The second the German raid had been spotted, Captain Bruce had attempted to get Patrol out of the harbour, attempting to dash past the danger area under heavy fire. She did well but came under the guns of Blucher at around 0845hrs, who struck with two heavy shells. Four were killed and seven wounded, with the ship running aground. Holed and too low in the water to enter harbour, she was able to limp into Middlesbrough.

Parry served aboard TB1 (Torpedo Boat 1) from 17 May-4 December 1919. He appears to have returned to the fold for the Second World War under a new Service Number (JX170793); sold together with box of issue and Admiralty Certificate for the Second World War awards.

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Sold for
£250

Starting price
£70