31
An unusual Great War M.B.E. group of four awarded to Gunner Thomas Hopkins, Royal Navy,...
Your max bid
GBP
Place Bid
Auctioneer's estimate
300 GBP - 400 GBP
Additional fees apply
34.74% Inc.VAT/sales tax
Add to watch list
Watching
(3 watching)
Please confirm your bid
Bids do not include VAT, buyer’s premium or delivery.
By confirming your bid, you agree that you have read and accepted the-saleroom.com and the auctioneer's terms and conditions. Confirming your bid is a legally binding obligation to purchase and pay for the lot should your bid be successful.
Confirm bid removal
Your bid is off increment
Choose one of the quick bid options below:
Bids do not include VAT, buyer’s premium or delivery.
By confirming your bid, you agree that you have read and accepted the-saleroom.com and the auctioneer's terms and conditions. Confirming your bid is a legally binding obligation to purchase and pay for the lot should your bid be successful.
Description
An unusual Great War M.B.E. group of four awarded to Gunner Thomas Hopkins, Royal Navy, Officer-in-Charge of H.M.S. Vernon’s Divers
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge; British War and Victory Medals (Gnr. T. Hopkins. R.N.) Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st Issue (155644. Thomas Hopkins, C.P.O. H.M.S. Black Prince) this with small official correction, mounted as worn, good very fine (4) £300-£400
---
Importation Duty
This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK
---
---
Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 1999.
Thomas Hopkins was commissioned as Acting Gunner (Temp) on 26 October 1917, and in 1919 is shown as attached to H.M.S. Vernon, Torpedo School at Portsmouth. He was awarded the M.B.E. (Military) in 1919. The following recommendation is taken from official records:
‘This Warrant Officer previous to his promotion, 26 October 1917, whilst a C.P.O., R.F.R., carried out the duties of Diver in H.M.S. Vernon, during which period he displayed great zeal, exceptional ability and disregard of danger.
In October and November, 1915, on the occasion of Velox being sunk, he recovered the explosives and remaining torpedo, which was in a most dangerous and awkward position, the safety pin of the pistol being out and the fan unwound.
During April 1917, he destroyed the wreck of a full rigged ship in the Channel 8 miles W. by S. of St Catherine’s in 21 fathoms. The strong tides and wreckage made this a very dangerous operation. During the War he has recovered 574 torpedoes, been employed on the examination of laid experimental mines in deep water and carried out the usual routine work, having spent in all 1495 hours under water.
Since his promotion he has been in charge of Vernon’s divers and has given every satisfaction, and in this capacity has continued to dive himself.’
Sold with named card boxes of issue for British War and Victory Medals, together with Royal Naval Temperance Society Medals (2): silver medal with two enamelled bars inscribed ‘10 Years’ and ‘The Victory Medal’, and a silver and enamel cross with enamelled ribbon bar for ‘Three-Years T A’.
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge; British War and Victory Medals (Gnr. T. Hopkins. R.N.) Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st Issue (155644. Thomas Hopkins, C.P.O. H.M.S. Black Prince) this with small official correction, mounted as worn, good very fine (4) £300-£400
---
Importation Duty
This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK
---
---
Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 1999.
Thomas Hopkins was commissioned as Acting Gunner (Temp) on 26 October 1917, and in 1919 is shown as attached to H.M.S. Vernon, Torpedo School at Portsmouth. He was awarded the M.B.E. (Military) in 1919. The following recommendation is taken from official records:
‘This Warrant Officer previous to his promotion, 26 October 1917, whilst a C.P.O., R.F.R., carried out the duties of Diver in H.M.S. Vernon, during which period he displayed great zeal, exceptional ability and disregard of danger.
In October and November, 1915, on the occasion of Velox being sunk, he recovered the explosives and remaining torpedo, which was in a most dangerous and awkward position, the safety pin of the pistol being out and the fan unwound.
During April 1917, he destroyed the wreck of a full rigged ship in the Channel 8 miles W. by S. of St Catherine’s in 21 fathoms. The strong tides and wreckage made this a very dangerous operation. During the War he has recovered 574 torpedoes, been employed on the examination of laid experimental mines in deep water and carried out the usual routine work, having spent in all 1495 hours under water.
Since his promotion he has been in charge of Vernon’s divers and has given every satisfaction, and in this capacity has continued to dive himself.’
Sold with named card boxes of issue for British War and Victory Medals, together with Royal Naval Temperance Society Medals (2): silver medal with two enamelled bars inscribed ‘10 Years’ and ‘The Victory Medal’, and a silver and enamel cross with enamelled ribbon bar for ‘Three-Years T A’.
Auction Details
Shipping
T&Cs & Important Info
Ask seller a question
An unusual Great War M.B.E. group of four awarded to Gunner Thomas Hopkins, Royal Navy, Officer-in-Charge of H.M.S. Vernon’s Divers
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge; British War and Victory Medals (Gnr. T. Hopkins. R.N.) Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st Issue (155644. Thomas Hopkins, C.P.O. H.M.S. Black Prince) this with small official correction, mounted as worn, good very fine (4) £300-£400
---
Importation Duty
This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK
---
---
Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 1999.
Thomas Hopkins was commissioned as Acting Gunner (Temp) on 26 October 1917, and in 1919 is shown as attached to H.M.S. Vernon, Torpedo School at Portsmouth. He was awarded the M.B.E. (Military) in 1919. The following recommendation is taken from official records:
‘This Warrant Officer previous to his promotion, 26 October 1917, whilst a C.P.O., R.F.R., carried out the duties of Diver in H.M.S. Vernon, during which period he displayed great zeal, exceptional ability and disregard of danger.
In October and November, 1915, on the occasion of Velox being sunk, he recovered the explosives and remaining torpedo, which was in a most dangerous and awkward position, the safety pin of the pistol being out and the fan unwound.
During April 1917, he destroyed the wreck of a full rigged ship in the Channel 8 miles W. by S. of St Catherine’s in 21 fathoms. The strong tides and wreckage made this a very dangerous operation. During the War he has recovered 574 torpedoes, been employed on the examination of laid experimental mines in deep water and carried out the usual routine work, having spent in all 1495 hours under water.
Since his promotion he has been in charge of Vernon’s divers and has given every satisfaction, and in this capacity has continued to dive himself.’
Sold with named card boxes of issue for British War and Victory Medals, together with Royal Naval Temperance Society Medals (2): silver medal with two enamelled bars inscribed ‘10 Years’ and ‘The Victory Medal’, and a silver and enamel cross with enamelled ribbon bar for ‘Three-Years T A’.
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge; British War and Victory Medals (Gnr. T. Hopkins. R.N.) Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st Issue (155644. Thomas Hopkins, C.P.O. H.M.S. Black Prince) this with small official correction, mounted as worn, good very fine (4) £300-£400
---
Importation Duty
This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK
---
---
Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 1999.
Thomas Hopkins was commissioned as Acting Gunner (Temp) on 26 October 1917, and in 1919 is shown as attached to H.M.S. Vernon, Torpedo School at Portsmouth. He was awarded the M.B.E. (Military) in 1919. The following recommendation is taken from official records:
‘This Warrant Officer previous to his promotion, 26 October 1917, whilst a C.P.O., R.F.R., carried out the duties of Diver in H.M.S. Vernon, during which period he displayed great zeal, exceptional ability and disregard of danger.
In October and November, 1915, on the occasion of Velox being sunk, he recovered the explosives and remaining torpedo, which was in a most dangerous and awkward position, the safety pin of the pistol being out and the fan unwound.
During April 1917, he destroyed the wreck of a full rigged ship in the Channel 8 miles W. by S. of St Catherine’s in 21 fathoms. The strong tides and wreckage made this a very dangerous operation. During the War he has recovered 574 torpedoes, been employed on the examination of laid experimental mines in deep water and carried out the usual routine work, having spent in all 1495 hours under water.
Since his promotion he has been in charge of Vernon’s divers and has given every satisfaction, and in this capacity has continued to dive himself.’
Sold with named card boxes of issue for British War and Victory Medals, together with Royal Naval Temperance Society Medals (2): silver medal with two enamelled bars inscribed ‘10 Years’ and ‘The Victory Medal’, and a silver and enamel cross with enamelled ribbon bar for ‘Three-Years T A’.
Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria
Sale Date(s)
Venue Address
16 Bolton Street
London
W1J 8BQ
United Kingdom
General delivery information available from the auctioneer
If you are successful in purchasing lot/s being auctioned by us and opt for the item/s to be sent to you, we will use the following methods of shipment:
Within the UK
If you live within the UK, items will be despatched using Royal Mail Special Delivery. This service provides parcel tracking (via the Royal Mail website) and next weekday delivery (betwen 9am and 1pm). Items delivered within the UK are covered by our insurance company. Heavy and bulky lots will be sent by courier, in discussion with the client.
Outside of the UK
If the item/s being sent are worth under £1000 in total they are sent using Royal Mail’s Signed For International service. This ensures the item must be signed for when it is delivered.
If the item/s being sent are valued at over £1000 in total they will be sent using FedEx. This service allows next day delivery to customers in many parts of the US and parcels are fully trackable using the FedEx website.
Shipping Exceptions
Certain lots such as those containing glass or sharp implements, etc., may not be suitable for in-house shipping within or outside of the UK. Please contact Noonans with any queries.
Important Information
Auctioneer's Buyers Premium: 24% (+VAT)
There is an additional charge of 4.95% (+VAT/sales tax)
