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HMS Gibraltar was a 1st Class twin screw cruiser of 7,700 tons. She served in South Africa between April 1901 to June 1902 and was commanded by Captain A H Limpus.


Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (0) (W. H. Cook, Ord., HMS Gibraltar.) large impressed naming;
1914-15 Star (204971, W. H. Cook, P.O., R.N.);
BWM and VM (Gnr. W. H. Cook. R.N.) BWM officially renamed;
Royal Navy LS&GC GV, 1st issue (204971. W. H. Cook, P.O. HMS Minotaur.)

William Henry Cook was born in Hadleigh, Suffolk in June 1883. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in June 1899, and advanced to Petty Officer in January 1914. Service included with H.M. Ships Gibraltar, March 1901 - June 1904, Minotaur (cruiser), June 1916 - July 1917.

Cook was commissioned Gunner in July 1917, and retired as Lieutenant in June 1933.

He died in April 1947.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (0) (W. H. J. Parkin, P.O. 1Cl., HMS Gibraltar.);
1914-15 Star (Gnr. W. H. J. Parkin. R.N.);
BWM and VM (Ch. Gnr. W. H. J. Parkin. R.N.);
Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued

William Henry John Parkin was born in Alverstoke, Hampshire, on 31 December 1878; a former Greenwich Hospital Scholar he entered the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class in HMS St Vincent on 10 July 1894. Rated Ordinary Seaman in HMS Imperieuse on 3 March 1896, he was advanced Able Seaman in HMS Comus on 1 December 1897; Leading Seaman in HMS Trafalgar on 24 August 1899; Petty Officer Second Class in HMS Excellent on 7 June 1900; and Petty Officer First Class in HMS Duke of Wellington on 17 June 1900. Joining HMS Gibraltar on 5 March 1901, he served in South Africa during the Boer War.

Transferring to HMS Excellent on 14 May 1902, Parkin was promoted to Gunner (Warrant Officer) in HMS Excellent on 28 May 1903. Appointed to HMS Medina on 10 November 1910, he received the Delhi Durbar Medal 1911 for his services in this ship, which was converted to a Royal Yacht to convey H.I.M. King George V and the Royal party to India, one of 285 such awards to Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

Parkin was appointed to command Torpedo Boat 57 and then, on 28 January 1913, to command Torpedo Boat 78. Appointed to the dreadnought battleship HMS St Vincent on 14 April 1914, he served in her throughout the Great War and was present at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, where she engaged the German battlecruiser SMS Moltke, and fired a total of 98 twelve-inch shells during the Battle. On 4 August 1916 he was admitted to Haslar Naval Hospital with Neurasthenia (Shell shock), probably the result of his experiences at Jutland having suffered the condition for 4 weeks, and was discharged to duty on 15 August 1916. Promoted Chief Gunner on 29 May 1918, he was commissioned Lieutenant on 12 August 1922 and placed on the retired list on 31 December 1928. Promoted Lieutenant-Commander on the retired list on 12 August 1930, he died in 1958.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (0) (A. Crook, A.B., HMS Gibraltar.);
1914-15 Star (176503, A. Crook, A.B., R.N.);
BWM and VM (176503 A. Crook. A.B. R.N.);
Royal Navy LS&GC GV, 1st issue (176503, A. Crook, A.B., HMS Vernon.)

Albert Crook was born in Portsea, Hampshire in August 1878. He enlisted into the Royal Navy in October 1893 and was assigned to the training ship HMS St Vincent as a Boy Second Class. In March 1901 he was posted to the cruiser, HMS Gibraltar which then sailed to the Cape to act as flagship of Rear-Admiral Arthur Moore, Commander-in-Chief of the Cape Station. Crook was serving in the torpedo school, HMS Vernon when he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in September 1911. Throughout the duration of the Great War, Crook served aboard the dreadnought battleship and flagship of the Grand Fleet, HMS Iron Duke. He was demobilised in February 1919, and joined the Coast Guard Force the following July.

The dreadnought battleship HMS Iron Duke was launched on 12 October 1912 and was the Fleet Flagship at the Battle of Jutland, where she inflicted significant damage on the S.M.S. König, and fired a total of 90 twelve-inch shells and 50 four-inch shells during the battle.

Picture courtesy of Warwick and Warwick

QSA (0) ((F. Duffett S.S.A. H.M.S. Gibraltar);
BWM (F.25058 F. Duffett A.C. 1 R.N.A.S.)

Warwick and Warwick say 'With copied WW1 roll, RNAS and RAF papers, Frank Duffett was born in Portsmouth 1883, served RN 1/7/98 to 3/9/12, re-enlisted RNAS 29/12/16, transferred to RAF 1/4/18, to RAF Reserve 12/2/19, WW1 only issued BWM.'

A partially described group from the next Mowbray Collectables auction.

QSA (0) (ERA HMS Gibraltar);
AGS 1902 (1) Aro 1901 - 1902 (HMS Thrush);
1914 - 15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal;
Royal Naval LS&GC Medal (HMS Imogene).

Herbert George Morgan (1877 - 1951) joined the Navy as an engine room artificer in 1898. He served in the Boer War, and the engagement with the Aro tribe.

He retired in 1920.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

OBE, 1st, Military, HM 1919;
QSA (0) (Ast. Clk. C. C. Merry, R.N., H.M.S. Gibraltar.);
NGS (1) Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (Asst. Paymr. C. C. Merry, R.N. H.M.S. Highflyer.);
BWM (Payr. Lt. Cr. C. C. Merry. R.N.)

OBE London Gazette 27 June 1919: ‘For valuable services as Secretary to Vice Admiral Sir Edmund R. Pears, K.B.E., C.B., in charge of the naval establishments at Invergordon.’

Colin Campbell Merry was born on 22 January 1884 and joined the Royal Navy as an Assistant Clerk on 15 July 1901; Assistant Paymaster and Secretary’s Clerk, June 1905; Acting Paymaster, November 1916; Paymaster, February 1917; Paymaster Lieutenant-Commander, January 1920. During the Great War he was secretary to Rear-Admiral R. H. Anstruther at Hong Kong, and to Rear-Admiral E. R. Pears at Cromarty.

He was afterwards secretary to Vice-Admiral Sir Douglas Nicholson in the Reserve Fleet, 1922-23, before taking charge of supply duties at Port Edgar Base, having been promoted to Paymaster Commander in February 1923. In May 1925 he was appointed as secretary to Rear-Admiral P. H. Hall-Thompson, commanding Third Battle Squadron, Atlantic Fleet.