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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 108

The campaign group of three awarded to Leading Seaman C. Cox, Royal Navy, who faced a storm of shot aboard Chester alongside the posthumous Victoria Cross Winner Jack Cornwell - 'Boy Cornwell' - at the Battle of Jutland

1914-15 Star (161520, C. Cox, L.S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (161520 C. Cox. L.S. R.N.), good very fine (3)

Charles Cox was born at London on 3 May 1876 and enlisted with the Royal Navy as Boy Class II on 15 July 1891. Achieving his majority with H.M.S. Sans Pareil on 3 May 1894, Cox was appointed Ordinary Seaman. Promoted Able Seaman with H.M.S. Anson on 18 February 1897; he went on to see service with a number of vessels and shore establishments over the next decade including Repulse, Hawke and Penguin.

Further advanced Leading Seaman while stationed ashore at H.M.S. Pembroke on 7 June 1910. Further service with London and Hibernia saw him ashore again on the outbreak of the Great War at H.M.S. Chatham. Posted again to Pembroke I Cox was soon to join the company of the newly launched town-class cruiser Chester.

This vessel was serving as part of the Third Light Cruiser Squadron when - on 31 May 1916 - Admiral Beatty's Battlecruiser Fleet sailed to intercept Hipper's Fleet. Acting as part of the screen for the Third Battlecruiser Squadron she approached a line of unidentified ships which proved to be the German 2nd Scouting Group. As soon as the enemy were identified a fierce firefight developed between the Squadron and four enemy cruisers. The accuracy of Chesters shooting however caused its own issues as the enemy began to return fire with devastating effect.

This exposed one of the great flaws in Chester's design, the gun-shields did not reach the deck which allowed shrapnel to get underneath them. As the heavy fire continued to slam into Chester casualties mounted including one Boy Class I, Jack Cornwall who was later to be awarded the Victoria Cross for his devotion to duty in standing by his gun despite mortal wounds. By the end of the fighting the crew had suffered losses of 29 killed and 49 wounded, Chester herself had weathered at least 17 hits.

Cox survived the fighting and remained with Chester for the bulk of the war before transferring to Pembroke I on 9 November 1918. He was finally demobilised on 14 February 1919; sold together with copied research including service papers.

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Sold for
£210

Starting price
£130