Lot 393
AN IMPORTANT Q-SHIP DSM. P-ALBUM AND RELATED FAMILY MEDALS.
A Metropolitan Police 1887 Service Medal awarded to P C C Deacon.
A Society For the Protection Of Life From Fire, bronze award (Man & Woman type), in bronze. Named to Charles Deacon for services at 13 Gloucester Place, Hyde Park, London. 17th November 1889.
Citation Details are as follows, from the original award.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire. (Patron the Queen).
This Certificate in addition to a Bronze Medal, is awarded to 184f Police Constable Charles Deacon in testimony of prompt and efficient aid rendered by him at a fire on the 17th Day of November 1889, at 15 Gloucester Place, Hyde Park W.
20 New Bridge Street. E C. 13th February 1890. By order of the Trustees, signed George Cooke. 12" x 9.1/4" approx.
A Distinguished Service Medal named to 237806 W H Deacon PO. English Channel 3 Sept 1917. (Action against a German Submarine)
A Naval General Service Medal with bar Persian Gulf 1909-14, named to 237806 W H Deacon AB HMS Espiegle. (A Crew of 150 Officers & Men) Cadmus Class and the last RN ship to have a figurehead, though no sails were fitted. Took part in Gun Running duties and when war was declared 5/11/1914 engaged and silenced a significant body of Turks.
A 1914/15 Star named to 237806 W H Deacon PO RN. British War & Victory Medals named to 237806 W H Deacon PO RN.
With an original Newspaper account of his Service and Death on HMS Esk .
LOST OVERBOARD.
Newbury Mans tragic death off Spain. Life-long Naval Career.
A well known Newbury man Petty Officer William Harry deacon was 'Lost Overboard' from HMS Esk, while employed in Operations off the coast of Spain, during recent severe weather. He was the son of the Late Mr Charles Deacon, who kept a General shop at North Villa, Boundary Road, Newbury. He was aged 47.
Petty Officer Deacon lost his life in the service to which he devoted his career. He joined the navy at the early age of 16 and after the usual training ship period, joined the Home Fleet. In 1910 he was drafted to the East Indies station, where he took part in the campaign to suppress Gun Running. For this he was awarded the Persian Gulf Medal and clasp, and he returned to England in 1913.
Early in 1914 he joined the Destroyer HMS Hardy,m which was employed off the coast of Ireland, again supressing Gun Running
At the Outbreak of War he was serving in the North Sea and his ship was badly damaged by enemy gun-fire at the Raid on Hartlepool.
He was in the Battle of Jutland on board HMS Barham, and was in the thick of the battle, when over 60 men were killed.
In 1917 he volunteered for Q Boats or Mystery Ships campaign against enemy Submarines. His ship was sunk but he was rescued and afterwards received the Distinguished Service Medal
In 1920 he was lent to the Australian Navy and went in the new Destroyer Anzac to Australia, where he served for 2 1/2 years.
On his return to England he served as Petty Officer and Torpedo Coxswain on various Destroyers.
In 1927 he was drafted to China and served on the Yangtse-Kiang river, during the China-Japanese trouble.
Returning to England in 1930 he came out of the navy on pension and had several jobs in civilian life.
Petty Officer Deacon rejoined the navy in July 1936, and only last Christmas came to Newbury on leave, to stay for a fortnight with his stepmother, Mrs Deacon of 5, Gilders Square.
It was during manoeuvres off the Coast of Spain in Thursdays severe weather that he lost his life. Family provenance gives him washed overboard, whilst delivering a message to the bridge.
A 1914/15 Star named to J3105 J E Deacon AB RN. British war & Victory Medals named to J3105 L Smn J E Deacon RN.
Details from an original Newspaper Cutting.
The brother of William Deacon he also has quite some service to relate.
Seaman John Deacon who has recently been home on leave to visit his parents, has had an adventurous career for a young man of not more than 25 years. Joining the navy when quite a boy,
