War Medals

M.5844 ALFRED JAMES HOLLOWAY, COOK'S MATE, ROYAL NAVY : KILLED IN ACTION IN 'Q' SHIP, HMS.'STONECROP'

1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal 1914-19 (M.5844 Ck.Mte. RN.) : (ALFRED JAMES HOLLOWAY - Born 29 January 1895 at Ringwood, Hampshire, a fishmonger by trade when on 11 April 1913, he joined the Royal Navy as a Cook's Mate. Initially served at HMS.'Victory' but transferred to HMS. 'Dreadnought' from 19 December 1913 in which ship he remained until 4 March 1917, when posted back to 'Victory I'. Posted to 'Q' 3C' from 22 March 1917 and then to HMS. 'Stonecrop' (also known as 'Glenfoyle') a ''Q-ship' commanded by Commander Maurice Blackwood, from 1 August 1917 : On 17 September 1917 'Stonecrop' engaged and sank the German Submarine U-88. The following day whilst on patrol off the west coast of Ireland, 'Stonecrop' was hit by a torpedo fired from an unseen enemy submarine, the resultant explosion wrecked the the wireless office, demolished the bridge and wheel house, and killed five ratings. 'Stonecrop' had started to sink by the head when some fifteen minutes after the explosion a periscope was sighted on the starboard bow at about three thousand yards distant. The 'U' Boat eventually broke surface and approached the sinking 'Stonecrop', the enemy submarine commander demanded to know the identity of the ship. The 'Stonecrop' Navigator replied, 'The Salient, Cardiff to Scapa, cargo coal, 2,000 tons', apparently satisfied with this information the submarine commander turned his boat and made off leaving the crew of 'Stonecrop' to their fate. To accommodate the surviving crew members, only two lifeboats, one of which was almost waterlogged, and a raft remained undamaged, and from the original crew of ninety-nine men only fifty-five were to reach safety, some after spending six days adrift on the raft. The recipient was killed in this action, he has no known grave and is commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial.) : Sold with verification, copy Service Record, copy CWGC. information and copy of Commander Maurice Blackwood's report into the sinking of 'Stonecrop' : Medals mounted on long lengths of original silk ribbon, EF - £495