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Auction: 22133 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 441

(x) Four: Stoker Petty Officer G. Drummond, Royal Navy, who fought with H.M.S. Marksman at the Battle of Jutland before joining Grafton and seeing service with her at the Battle of Jaffa

Naval General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (304659 G. Drummond. L. Sto. H.M.S. Pelorus.); 1914-15 Star (304659, G. Drummond. Sto. 1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (304659 G. Drummond. S.P.O. R.N.), pitting and contact wear overall, nearly very fine (4)

George Drummond was born at Leven, Fife on 5 April 1881 and enlisted with the Royal Navy on 13 July 1903 as Stoker class II. Seeing service aboard a number of vessels prior to the Great War including H.M.S. Hannibal, Ocean and Pelorus. He was with that last when the cruiser was posted to the Persian Gulf as part of an effort by the Royal Navy to crack down on piracy, slavery and smuggling in the region.

By the outbreak of the Great War Drummond was serving as Stoker Class I, still with Pelorus but was soon posted to Blake for the destroyer H.M.S. Marksman. Promoted Leading Stoker on 15 May 1916, Drummond was still with Marksman when she led the 12th Destroyer Flotilla into action at the Battle of Jutland.

During the action two of the three divisions of 12th Destroyer Flotilla launched a massed torpedo attack on the German line, sinking the S.M.S. Pommern. Marksman however was not among them as the third Division was badly disrupted by the disrupted formations of the first two, now under heavy fire. Separated from the rest of the unit in the darkness she attached herself to the cruiser Champion and was present with her when she and Moresby sank a German destroyer. Marksman was also able to take on one of only two survivors from the Ardent, that being Lieutenant-Commander Arthur Marsden.

Promoted Stoker Petty Officer not long after the Battle on 1 February 1917 Drummond was posted to Grafton that same year on 1 July, being aboard her when she was torpedoed by UB-43. The cruiser was only saved by her torpedo bulges which proved partially effective, allowing her to limp into port at Malta. Drummond remained with her for the rest of the war, being present when she provided fire support to the British Army at the Battle of Jaffa.

Drummond saw some post-war service with the armed trawler Violette before being posted ashore again on 23 May 1922. He was pensioned ashore on 10 June 1922; sold together with an H.M.S. Pelorus cap tally, a photograph of Pelorus and an extract from A Cruiser on the Cape Station as well as copied service papers.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£320

Starting price
£130