"AN "OFF TOPIC'" BUT HIGHLY COLLECTABLE & RARE U.S.A HIGH FLEET 'ENTERTAINMENT MEDAL' November 13th 1905
With original suspender & ribbon 
"
Hands Joined Across The Sea As 20,000 Corks Popped"
These headlines appeared in the New York Times on 14 November 1905, the day after what must truly have been the biggest United States--British party of all time .This wonderful medal was produced to commemorate the visit of His Britannic Majesty Edward VII's 2nd Cruiser Squadron, Royal Navy to New York on 9th November 1905.
Rear-Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg, Royal Navy, & Rear-Admiral Robley Evans, Commander of the US North Atlantic Fleet.
The six ships of the Royal Navy's 2nd Cruiser Squadron, led by Rear-Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg onboard HMS Drake, had arrived in New York on 9 November during a cruise that had already taken in much of the Mediterranean as well as the eastern seaboard of Canada.
The previous week they had been at Annapolis where the US Navy had extended a warm welcome to the British ships, while the Prince had been feted in Washington where he met 
President Teddy Roosevelt. On the squadron's arrival in New York there was a memorable ball given on board the DRAKE but what the ratings would never forget was the party thrown by the US North Atlantic Fleet's enlisted men at Stauch's, one of the most popular eating places and dancehalls on the Bowery on Coney Island.
About 1,200 British sailors were hosted by 1,400 Americans. According to the New York Times, dinner was due to start at 6.30pm but was delayed because the Prince and Rear-Admiral Robley Evans, commander of the US North Atlantic Fleet, were late, which might have caused some discontent.
Nevertheless, the semi-official account of HMS Drake's 1905 cruise recorded: "A great ovation was accorded to Prince Louis and Admiral Evans as they entered; every man jumped up and let forth a yell of welcome. No sound-producing machine could produce such a clamour as came from those 2,600 sailors' throats. The walls of the huge building thrilled and vibrated. The roar of welcome swept the admirals forward on a tide of delight, and they smiled their appreciation as they passed among the enthusiastic sailors, there being no cessation in the outburst until all those at the admirals' table had filed in to their seats. All the captains and principal officers were present, a total of 116."
.The admirals quaffed some beer with their men but this was only the start of a busy night for the Prince who first went on to the Horse Show at Madison Square Gardens, arriving at about 9.30pm. From there he moved on to the warrant officers' ball being held on board HMS Drake. Dancing carried on until midnight and the Prince stayed for about an hour, dancing with several American ladies. He wrote his name on each lady's programme, more than 300 in total. After that he moved on to the Lambs Clubhouse where there was another 'gambol' before he had supper. By that time he had surely earned it.
But what of the party at Stauch's where 20,000 bottles of beer were said to have been used to wash down the meal? The NYT's reporter had been denied access to the event but he obviously had his sources. He wrote: "Shortly after the Prince's departure all semblance of discipline vanished. The men broke loose; the beer flowed like water, and everybody was willing to drift with the tide." After a description of what went on among the sideshows in the Bowery, the reporter added: "Men were standing on the long tables with bottles of beer in their hands (all the glasses had been smashed), toasting one another. A vaudeville entertainment was in progress, but nobody listened. After one act the tars took possession of the stage and danced anything and everything - English and American.... Many lay down upon the stage and fell asleep, while a score or more danced a cakewalk round the balcony. Others lay under the tables, but all were happy."
It cannot often be that a medal is issued to commemorate a party - even one on this scale - but that is what happened on this occasion. Measuring 4.3cms across, these may only have been made of tin but a number of these cheap-looking souvenirs found their way back across the Atlantic, probably to be put at the backs of drawers and forgotten, although today they make unusual collectibles. The obverse shows a US warship while the reverse reads: "Entertainment given by Enlisted Men of the U.S. North Atlantic Fleet in Honour of our Cousins the Enlisted Men of H.B.M. 2nd Cruiser Squadron at Stauch's, Coney Island, N.Y. Nov 13. 1905." The 5cm-wide ribbon bears the US flag and the White Ensign.
These medals were not the only trophies to emerge from the 2nd Cruiser Squadron's visit. Shortly after the British squadron returned to England, the Prince sent a three-foot high, silver-plated cup to Admiral Evans. The side of the cup was engraved with a message that had echoes of the tin medal: "To the enlisted men of the North Atlantic Fleet from their British cousins of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron. In grateful remembrance of the many kindnesses, tokens of good fellowship and wonderful entertainments that were given to them in cordial friendship by their comrades across the sea."
The Prince asked that the trophy - still known as the Battenberg Cup - should become a challenge cup among the North Atlantic enlisted men. The rules were set up for cutter racing, including a provision that British sailors could compete with their American counterparts "whenever a ship holding the cup would fall in with a British man-o-war." Only once in 34 years of competition and 52 challenges did the U.S. Navy lose the cup to the British. That was in 1907 during the Jamestown Exposition in Norfolk, Viginia.
These competitions carried on until the Second World War when the cutter challenge was interrupted and never started again. USS West Virginia was the last ship to win the cup in 1940. It was still on board on 7 December 1941 when the USS West Virginia was sunk at Pearl Harbor. It remained on board as the ship was raised, refitted and returned to service and continued to be kept on board until the ship's decommissioning in 1947. At that time, the cup was displayed at several US Navy commands and was eventually placed in the Navy Memorial Museum in Washington, where it stayed until 1977. The cup was then awarded to USS Holland.
The criteria for earning the Battenberg Cup changed in that year from having the fastest cutter to having the crew who most distinguished themselves. A variety of aspects are now taken into consideration when deciding the winner, including scores in the Battle Efficiency competition and improvements or achievement in other areas such as operations, administration and leadership.
On its 1905 cruise, the 2nd Cruiser Squadron had consisted of HM Ships Drake, Cornwall, Berwick, Essex, Bedford and Cumberland. The 14,150-ton HMS Drake, completed at Pembroke Dockyard in January 1903, was little over two years old when the cruise began in March 1905. She was lost during the First World War when she was torpedoed by U79 off Rathlin Island, north of Ireland, on 2 October 1917.
Her flag captain in 1905 was Captain Mark Kerr who, then an admiral, in 1933 wrote The Navy in My Time. The visit to the States, despite its significance in terms of bolstering international goodwill, does not rate a mention; Kerr was much more concerned that in 1906 the squadron was top in gunnery in the Royal Navy and that the DRAKE was the most successful ship.
HMS Drake's 1905 cruise with the rest of her squadron - all Monmouth class cruisers each displacing 9,800 tons - is told in detail at www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/hms_drake.htm. Here you will find a selection of photographs of the ship and her crew, including a number taken in 1905-06. It is a valuable resource which, with an original account of the cruise, runs to seventy-two A4 pages. All the officers are listed but, perhaps more interestingly, the narrative includes references to a number of ratings, some because they had achieved a distinction of some sort, perhaps in a sporting competition, others because they had died or been involved in accidents.
When HMS Drake's commission ended in May 1907, it was described somewhat grandly by the officer who recorded its details as 'the happiest and not least eventful which is recorded in the history of our modern Navy'. Some of its ratings might have said 'Aye, aye' to that. NOW A VERY RARE ITEM...WE'VE ONLY SEEN ABOUT FOUR OF THESE ( normally with missing parts ) IN ALMOST 40 YEARSA wonderful and enduring demonstration of the "Special Relationship" between the USA & THE UK.....And just to think .....all this great friendship and comeradery was being demonstrated BEFORE both WW1 & WW2....How wonderfully special is this relationship!
£250
Hands Joined Across The Sea As 20,000 Corks Popped" These headlines appeared in the New York Times on 14 November 1905, the day after what must truly have been the biggest United States--British party of all time .This wonderful medal was produced to commemorate the visit of His Britannic Majesty Edward VII's 2nd Cruiser Squadron, Royal Navy to New York on 9th November 1905.
Rear-Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg, Royal Navy, & Rear-Admiral Robley Evans, Commander of the US North Atlantic Fleet.The six ships of the Royal Navy's 2nd Cruiser Squadron, led by Rear-Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg onboard HMS Drake, had arrived in New York on 9 November during a cruise that had already taken in much of the Mediterranean as well as the eastern seaboard of Canada. The previous week they had been at Annapolis where the US Navy had extended a warm welcome to the British ships, while the Prince had been feted in Washington where he met
President Teddy Roosevelt. On the squadron's arrival in New York there was a memorable ball given on board the DRAKE but what the ratings would never forget was the party thrown by the US North Atlantic Fleet's enlisted men at Stauch's, one of the most popular eating places and dancehalls on the Bowery on Coney Island.
About 1,200 British sailors were hosted by 1,400 Americans. According to the New York Times, dinner was due to start at 6.30pm but was delayed because the Prince and Rear-Admiral Robley Evans, commander of the US North Atlantic Fleet, were late, which might have caused some discontent.
Nevertheless, the semi-official account of HMS Drake's 1905 cruise recorded: "A great ovation was accorded to Prince Louis and Admiral Evans as they entered; every man jumped up and let forth a yell of welcome. No sound-producing machine could produce such a clamour as came from those 2,600 sailors' throats. The walls of the huge building thrilled and vibrated. The roar of welcome swept the admirals forward on a tide of delight, and they smiled their appreciation as they passed among the enthusiastic sailors, there being no cessation in the outburst until all those at the admirals' table had filed in to their seats. All the captains and principal officers were present, a total of 116."
.The admirals quaffed some beer with their men but this was only the start of a busy night for the Prince who first went on to the Horse Show at Madison Square Gardens, arriving at about 9.30pm. From there he moved on to the warrant officers' ball being held on board HMS Drake. Dancing carried on until midnight and the Prince stayed for about an hour, dancing with several American ladies. He wrote his name on each lady's programme, more than 300 in total. After that he moved on to the Lambs Clubhouse where there was another 'gambol' before he had supper. By that time he had surely earned it.
But what of the party at Stauch's where 20,000 bottles of beer were said to have been used to wash down the meal? The NYT's reporter had been denied access to the event but he obviously had his sources. He wrote: "Shortly after the Prince's departure all semblance of discipline vanished. The men broke loose; the beer flowed like water, and everybody was willing to drift with the tide." After a description of what went on among the sideshows in the Bowery, the reporter added: "Men were standing on the long tables with bottles of beer in their hands (all the glasses had been smashed), toasting one another. A vaudeville entertainment was in progress, but nobody listened. After one act the tars took possession of the stage and danced anything and everything - English and American.... Many lay down upon the stage and fell asleep, while a score or more danced a cakewalk round the balcony. Others lay under the tables, but all were happy."
It cannot often be that a medal is issued to commemorate a party - even one on this scale - but that is what happened on this occasion. Measuring 4.3cms across, these may only have been made of tin but a number of these cheap-looking souvenirs found their way back across the Atlantic, probably to be put at the backs of drawers and forgotten, although today they make unusual collectibles. The obverse shows a US warship while the reverse reads: "Entertainment given by Enlisted Men of the U.S. North Atlantic Fleet in Honour of our Cousins the Enlisted Men of H.B.M. 2nd Cruiser Squadron at Stauch's, Coney Island, N.Y. Nov 13. 1905." The 5cm-wide ribbon bears the US flag and the White Ensign.
These medals were not the only trophies to emerge from the 2nd Cruiser Squadron's visit. Shortly after the British squadron returned to England, the Prince sent a three-foot high, silver-plated cup to Admiral Evans. The side of the cup was engraved with a message that had echoes of the tin medal: "To the enlisted men of the North Atlantic Fleet from their British cousins of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron. In grateful remembrance of the many kindnesses, tokens of good fellowship and wonderful entertainments that were given to them in cordial friendship by their comrades across the sea."
The Prince asked that the trophy - still known as the Battenberg Cup - should become a challenge cup among the North Atlantic enlisted men. The rules were set up for cutter racing, including a provision that British sailors could compete with their American counterparts "whenever a ship holding the cup would fall in with a British man-o-war." Only once in 34 years of competition and 52 challenges did the U.S. Navy lose the cup to the British. That was in 1907 during the Jamestown Exposition in Norfolk, Viginia.
These competitions carried on until the Second World War when the cutter challenge was interrupted and never started again. USS West Virginia was the last ship to win the cup in 1940. It was still on board on 7 December 1941 when the USS West Virginia was sunk at Pearl Harbor. It remained on board as the ship was raised, refitted and returned to service and continued to be kept on board until the ship's decommissioning in 1947. At that time, the cup was displayed at several US Navy commands and was eventually placed in the Navy Memorial Museum in Washington, where it stayed until 1977. The cup was then awarded to USS Holland.
The criteria for earning the Battenberg Cup changed in that year from having the fastest cutter to having the crew who most distinguished themselves. A variety of aspects are now taken into consideration when deciding the winner, including scores in the Battle Efficiency competition and improvements or achievement in other areas such as operations, administration and leadership.
On its 1905 cruise, the 2nd Cruiser Squadron had consisted of HM Ships Drake, Cornwall, Berwick, Essex, Bedford and Cumberland. The 14,150-ton HMS Drake, completed at Pembroke Dockyard in January 1903, was little over two years old when the cruise began in March 1905. She was lost during the First World War when she was torpedoed by U79 off Rathlin Island, north of Ireland, on 2 October 1917.
Her flag captain in 1905 was Captain Mark Kerr who, then an admiral, in 1933 wrote The Navy in My Time. The visit to the States, despite its significance in terms of bolstering international goodwill, does not rate a mention; Kerr was much more concerned that in 1906 the squadron was top in gunnery in the Royal Navy and that the DRAKE was the most successful ship.
HMS Drake's 1905 cruise with the rest of her squadron - all Monmouth class cruisers each displacing 9,800 tons - is told in detail at www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/hms_drake.htm. Here you will find a selection of photographs of the ship and her crew, including a number taken in 1905-06. It is a valuable resource which, with an original account of the cruise, runs to seventy-two A4 pages. All the officers are listed but, perhaps more interestingly, the narrative includes references to a number of ratings, some because they had achieved a distinction of some sort, perhaps in a sporting competition, others because they had died or been involved in accidents.
When HMS Drake's commission ended in May 1907, it was described somewhat grandly by the officer who recorded its details as 'the happiest and not least eventful which is recorded in the history of our modern Navy'. Some of its ratings might have said 'Aye, aye' to that. NOW A VERY RARE ITEM...WE'VE ONLY SEEN ABOUT FOUR OF THESE ( normally with missing parts ) IN ALMOST 40 YEARSA wonderful and enduring demonstration of the "Special Relationship" between the USA & THE UK.....And just to think .....all this great friendship and comeradery was being demonstrated BEFORE both WW1 & WW2....How wonderfully special is this relationship!
£250