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Auction: 24003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 145

A good Great War O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Colonel C. A. C. Lucas, Royal Marines, who commanded H.M.S. Marlborough's Q-turret at the Battle of Jutland

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, 1st Type, Officer's (O.B.E.) breast Badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. C. A. C. Lucas, R.M.L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. C.A.C. Lucas, R.M.L.I.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935, gilt all but worn off the first, contact marks, otherwise generally very fine (7)

O.B.E. London Gazette 17 July 1919:

'For valuable services in H.M.S. Marlborough in the 1st Battle Squadron.'

The original recommendation states:

'A keen and energetic officer. He has been in command of a detachment since February 1917 and prior to that he was a subaltern in the same ship.'

Charles Anthony Cecil Lucas was born at Stoke, Devon on 17 February 1881, the son of a naval officer, and was commissioned in the Royal Marine Light Infantry as a 2nd Lieutenant in September 1907.

Advanced to Lieutenant in the following year, his first seagoing appointment was in the cruiser H.M.S. Defence from February 1911 until August 1913, in which period she escorted the ocean liner R.M.S. Medina - with the newly crowned King George V - to the Delhi Durbar; Lucas was apparently a guest of the Maharajah of Bikaner, with whom he went big game hunting.

Jutland

In January 1914, Lucas joined the battleship Marlborough and he remained likewise employed until March 1919. He was consequently present at the Battle of Jutland when he served as an Assistant Gunnery Officer with command of the battleship's Q-turret. Thanks to her efficient and accurate gunnery work, Marlborough gained some notable hits, including two salvoes that struck the Wiesbaden, opening her up her to reveal a 'deep red flame inside her hull'. Later still, she took on the Grosser Kurfurst, and caused her much damage with three successive salvoes that found their mark.

However, Marlborough was herself struck by a torpedo in her diesel engine room and seriously damaged. The extent of that damage - and flooding - was apparent on her reaching the Humber after the battle, when her draught was 40 feet, ten feet more than full-load. And the hole in her side was found to be 70 feet long and 20 feet deep.

Captain Ross subsequently recommended Lucas for promotion: 'He has carried out his duties as Assistant Gunnery Officer with marked ability. In charge of Q-turret in the action of 31 May 1916. A sound and zealous officer.' Lucas was indeed advanced, being appointed a substantive rank of Captain in January 1917.

Subsequent career

The inter-war years witnessed him serving in the Mediterranean and Home Fleets, in addition to a tour of duty in the 12th Battalion, R.M., in Shanghai in 1927. Advanced to Major in the following year, he also served as Garrison Commander of St. Helena in 1930-33, a period that witnessed him stand in as Acting Governor for 18 months; he was duly commended by the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Placed on the Retired List as Colonel 2nd Commandant, R.M., in May 1942, Lucas was immediately recalled and served at Chatham until reverting to the Retired List in May 1945. The Colonel died in June 1962; sold with copied research.

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Sold for
£500

Starting price
£320