(HMS HYACINTH)& 1914-15 Star "BATTLE OF JUTLAND"Trio with Russian Medal of St Anne entitlement. To:CHIEF GUNNER. H.C. POOK. R.N.
(Hugh Pook was the Chief Gunner of H.M.S. REVENGE at THE BATTLE OF JUTLAND)[HMS REVENGE at THE BATTLE of JUTLAND]
The first ship to be engaged by Revenge along with the other ships of the squadron, was the light cruiser, SMS Weisbaden, which had been disabled by the battlecruiser HMS Invincible. Before the Weisbaden sank, she was able to torpedo the Marlborough, which although already damaged, was able to continue in action. HMS Revenge then engaged the leading German battlecruisers which appeared out of the mist, landing five hits on the SMS Derfflinger, two of which caused explosions within the main gun turrets. A single hit was scored on SMS Von der Tann, damaging her superstructure. Finally, Revenge fired her 6-inch batteries against the German 6th and 9th Destroyer Flotillas which had attacked the squadron with torpedoes. Although none of the British ships were hit, in avoiding the incoming torpedoes, the squadron turned away, allowing the German battlecruisers to make good their escape. In the subsequent pursuit, the Marlborough had to reduce her speed due to the earlier torpedo damage, so Admiral Burney transferred his flag to Revenge by means of the light cruiser HMS Fearless, although the chase eventually had to be abandoned. Revenge had fired 102 armour piercing shells from her main armament and 87 rounds from her 6-inch guns; she also launched a single 21” torpedo without result and had fired at the Zeppelin L11 with her 3-inch anti-aircraft guns. 
As well as the the group of five pictured above, Hugh Pook is also entitled to the Russian award of "The Medal of The Order of St Anne" for the Battle of Jutland. (London Gazette. 1st October 1917) Pook was one of 19 chief gunners so awarded in this "Jutland" gazette. The original medal was made of 18ct Gold and it's clearly gone missing in one of the great metal melts of the past. We don't normally recommend copies but in this instance it might be good to add one for cosmetic reasons and on request we can obtain a very satisfactory copy to place with this excellent group ....or,if you are a purist.....you can spend £6000 on a real one ! This is a really excellent group of much historical importance and unusually for an "old salt's" group the medals are almost 'mint state' having had almost zero use.
Mr Pook also served on The Royal Yacht Victoria & Albert and is here seen in a Royal group photograph in 1935 during the Silver Jubilee of King George V. ( front row seated, left ) He is sitting cross legged just in front of the then young Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the future Queen Elizabeth, The late Queen Mother, who is herself seated next to King George V & Queen Mary with the then Duke of York, the future George VI to her left. SOLD Enquires and part-exchanges welcome.