Description
A, Battle of Jutland, British War Medal awarded to Leading Seaman Herbert George Barrow who Served Aboard H.M.S. Agincourt at the Battle comprising, 1914-1920 British War Medal, (233122 H.G. Barrow. L.S. R.N.), very fine
On 1 January 1915, H.M.S. Agincourt was still assigned to the 4th Battle Squadron, but had been assigned to the 1st Battle Squadron before the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. She was the last ship of the Sixth Division of the 1st Battle Squadron, along with Hercules, Revenge and the Flag Ship Marlborough, the most heterogeneous group possible as each ship was from a different class. The Sixth Division was the starboard most column of the Grand Fleet as it headed south to rendezvous with the ships of Admiral Beatty’s Battle Cruiser Fleet, then engaged with their opposite numbers from the German High Seas Fleet in the North Sea Admiral Jellicoe, commander of the Grand Fleet, kept it in cruising formation until 18:15, when he ordered it to deploy from column into a single line based on the port division, each ship turning 90° in succession. This turn made the Sixth Division the closest ships in the Grand Fleet to the battleships of the High Seas Fleet, and they fired on each ship as they made their turn to port. This concentration of fire later became known as “Windy Corner” to the British, as the ships were drenched by German shell splashes although none were hit.
At 18:24, Agincourt opened fire on a German battlecruiser with her main guns. Shortly afterwards her six-inch guns followed suit as German destroyers made torpedo attacks on the British battleships to cover the turn to the south of the High Seas Fleet. Agincourt successfully evaded two torpedoes, although another struck Marlborough. Visibility cleared around 19:15, and she engaged a Kaiser Class Battleship without result before it was lost in the smoke and haze. Around 20:00, Marlborough was forced to reduce speed because of the strain on her bulkheads from her torpedo damage and her division mates conformed to her speed. In the reduced visibility the division lost sight of the Grand Fleet during the night, passing the badly damaged battlecruiser SMS Sevdlitz without opening fire. Dawn found them with only the detritus from the previous day’s battle in sight and the division arrived back at Scapa Flow on 2 June.
Agincourt had fired 144 twelve-inch shells and 111 six-inch shells during the battle.
Herbert George Barrow was born on the 30th of April 1887n in Portsea Hants on joining the Royal Navy on the 30th of April 1905 he gave his occupation as Errand Boy. He joined the Royal Navy for 12 years he served abord 19 ships including H.M.S. Agincourt at the Battle of Jutland. He was discharged an Invalid on the 17th of December 1917.
Sold with a copy Medal Roll showing he is entitled to a 1914-15 Star, British War and a Victory Medal, sold with copy Service papers confirming ship.