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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 655

Four: Chief Petty Officer J. J. Darling, Royal Navy, who served at the Battle of Jutland aboard H.M.S. Shannon and went on to see Second World War service

1914-15 Star (J.652 J. J. Darling. A.B. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.652 J. J. Darling. P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (J.652. J. J. Darling.P.O. H.M.S. Despatch.), mounted for wear, severely polished and worn, overall nearly very fine (4)

John James Darling was born at Ramsgate, Kent on 5 May 1891 and enlisted with the Royal Navy as Boy Class II on 12 February 1908. Serving afloat for the first time aboard the obsolete Battleship Jupiter, then part of the reserve he reached his majority with the cruiser Black Prince on 5 May 1909. Seeing further pre-war service with the cruiser Endymion and Battleship Duncan Darling removed to the cruiser Shannon on 10 March 1914.

Upon the outbreak of the Great War this vessel was sent to patrol the North Sea and narrowly avoided being bombed by a German aircraft around Heligoland Bight. As a result of this encounter, she was fitted with anti-aircraft weaponry in order to protect her from further attacks. Shannon, under Captain Dumaresq, was part of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron during the Battle of Jutland.

Promoted Petty Officer on 1 September 1918 Darling was posted to the Hunt-class minesweeper H.M.S. Marlow not long after the end of hostilities on 13 November 1918. During the inter-war period he was stationed with a number of shore establishments and warships including Crescent, Benbow and Royal Oak. Finally Darling was pensioned as a Petty Officer on 4 May 1931, however he returned to service on the outbreak of the Second World War.

Stationed ashore with Pembroke I he was given the rank of Chief Petty Officer (pensioned), later being posted to Pembroke IV on 1 January 1941. Darling was released from service on 16 August 1945, his records note that he refused the option to join the Royal Fleet Reserve.

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Sold for
£120

Starting price
£80