War Medals

FRANK HUBERT BARTLETT, CIVILIAN CANTEEN MANAGER, ROYAL NAVY, KILLED IN THE SINKING OF HMS. 'HAMPSHIRE'

1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal 1914-19, all correctly impressed naming - F. BARTLETT, Ctn.Mgr. (Canteen Manager) : (FRANK HUBERT BARTLETT - Resided at 31 Pentyre Terrace, Plymouth and was employed as the civilian Canteen Manager serving in the armoured cruiser HMS. 'Hampshire'. The ship had been present at the Battle of Jutland with the 2nd Cruiser Squadron immediately after which it was directed to carry Lord Kitchener and his staff from Scapa Flow on a diplomatic mission to Russia. 'Hampshire' departed Scapa Flow at 16.45hrs. 5 June 1916 and about an hour later rendezvoused with two destroyers which were to act as escorts. Because of gale force weather conditions it was decided that 'Hampshire' would sail through the Pentland Firth turning north along the western coast of the Orkney Islands, this would give shelter from the strong winds and would allow the two escorting destroyers, 'Unity' and 'Victor' to maintain close contact. However worsening weather conditions caused the destroyers to fall behind and as it was considered unlikely that enemy submarines would be active, 'Unity' and 'Victor' were ordered to return to Scapa Flow leaving 'Hampshire to sail on alone. At about 19.40hrs. when the ship was approximately two miles off mainland Orkney, 'Hampshire' was rocked by an enormous explosion which caused it to heel over to starboard. The detonation holed the cruiser between bows and bridge and the lifeboats when lowered were smashed against the side of the ship by the heavy seas. About fifteen minutes after the explosion 'Hampshire' sank by the bows. It is believed that the explosion was caused by 'Hampshire' hitting one of a series of mines laid by the German minelaying submarine U-75 shortly before the Battle of Jutland on 28 May 1916. Of the ship's complement of 655 Officers and men, only twelve men on two Carley floats managed to reach the shore. Lord Kitchener and his entire staff perished. The recipient has no known grave, and is commemorated on Plymouth Naval Memorial.). Sold with verification, copy CWGC. information and related research. Medals to an extremely rare civilian casualty, lost in one of the most famous incidents of the Great War. EF - £795