1914-15 Star (237510 F.J. HAWKEY. A.B., R.N.); British War Medal (237510 F.J. HAWKEY. AB. R.N.); Victory Medal (237510 F.J. HAWKEY. A.B. R.N.)
Frederick John Hawkey was born in Plymouth, Devon on 15 August 1890. He joined the Royal Navy on 15 August 1908 and served aboard various vessels, seeing action in WWI at Jutland aboard Centurion.
On the afternoon of May 31 1916, the two naval forces made contact near the coast of Denmark. The battle commenced with long-range gun exchanges between the capital ships of both fleets, with the engagement overall being characterized by its massive scale and complexity. It involved 250 ships, and both sides suffered heavy losses, with multiple vessels sunk or severely damaged.
Centurion only played a minor role in the battle. On May 31, under the command of Capt. Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, she fired four salvos at the German battlecruiser SMS Lützow. The HMS Orion (1910) then blocked Centurion’s view, preventing her from taking further action.
Hawkey survived the war and, having taken his discharge on 10 September 1920, transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve on 24 July 1921.
He passed away at Newton Abbot in March 1970.
Medals are in good condition unless indicated otherwise. Sold with some research. Please note the lettering on the 1914-15 Star is is a later official version this could be because he was issued a duplicate Star off a roll in 1943.
