KILLED-IN-ACTION “BATTLE of JUTLAND” 31st May 1916.
HMS Defence.
[THE MEDALS]
China Medal 1900, H. Howe, Sto., H.M.S. UNDAUNTED
Naval General Service Medal, [Persian Gulf 1909-1914]
280065 H.Howe, Sto. P.O., H.M.S. FOX
1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medal
280065 H. Howe. S.P.O., R.N. (Serving in HMS DEFENCE)
Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Edward VII 280065 Henry Howe. Ldg. Stoker, H.M.S. FOX
Memorial Plaque (Henry Howe) In card envelope of issue, with Buckingham Palace enclosure.
[BIOGRAPHY] HENRY HOWE. 1876-1916
Henry Howe was born in Stonehouse near Plymouth, Devon on 27th January 1876. He joined the Royal Navy at age 18 in 1895 as Stoker 2nd Class.......... and he served as a Stoker Petty Officer during the Great War. He was killed in action whilst serving in cruiser H.M.S. DEFENCE at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916.
HMS Defence was the flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot, and led the First Cruiser Squadron during the battle. She was engaged by the 
German battlecruiser S.M.S. DERFFLINGER and several other German battleships, resulting in her being hit by two salvoes which caused the detonation of a magazine and surrounding ammunition. HMS Defence exploded, with the loss of all but one man.
Henry Howe is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial along with about 900 of his shipmates who also died during the loss of HMS Defence on 31st May 1916 at Jutland.
[THE JUTLAND MEMORIAL MEDALLION]
Also included is a boxed Jutland Memorial Medallion, by Spink, London in White Metal which is in near mint state. Contained within the medallion box is a small 6 x 4 cm piece of silk, which has the following written on it: ‘Battle of Hornreef 31st May H.M.S. Neptune silk Ensign Presented by the Duchess of Albany.
[SUMMARY]This is one of the best Jutland Casualty groups we’ve ever had the honour to offer. Henry Howe’s combination of medals is more than rare, and with the plaque having also survived it brings this assembly close to being unique. Basic Jutland casualty trios are being regularly asked at £1200+ & a Jutland trio and plaque recently sold at £1600.
This totally exceptional group comes with a well assembled research file containing full service document copies and photographs. Also included is a first hand account of the discovery of the wreck of HMS DEFENCE by the diver who found it. This also contains “eye witness” accounts of the sinking of the ship during the battle on 31st May 1916.
ALL THE MEDALS HAVE SURVIVED IN PRACTICALLY MINT STATE AND DISPLAY CRISP, UNMARKED & FULLY PROOFLIKE SURFACES & ARE PRESENTED ON THEIR ORIGINAL RIBBONS.
AN EXCESSIVELY RARE & DESIRABLE JUTLAND CASUALTY GROUP WITH A CLOSE TO UNIQUE COMBINATION of CHINA - N.G.S.- WW1 TRIO & EDWARD VII L.S.G.C.
IF YOU COLLECT SERIOUSLY GOOD ROYAL NAVY GROUPS & WANT A SUPERB CHRISTMAS PRESENT THIS YEAR.......THIS IS FOR YOU.
£3995With part exchanges welcome. Call us today on: 01342-870926