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Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (0) (G. Billinghurst. Ldg: Sto: 1st Cl: H.M.S. Powerful)

George Billinghurst was born at Huxham, Devon on 2 July 1870 and enlisted as Stoker Class II on 3 July 1889. In this capacity he served with both Camperdown and Victoria, reaching maturity with the latter and being transferred away only two months before the deadly collision. Seeing further service with Sharpshooter he was Leading Stoker with Powerful from 8 June 1897.

It was in this capacity that he saw service during the Anglo-Boer War although he was not to be present for long, being posted to Vivid II on 9 June 1900. Advanced Chief Stoker there on 3 April 1902 he was to serve with a number of vessels including Hogue, Edgar and Leander before joining to the Royal Fleet Reserve on 9 July 1911.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (1) Defence of Ladysmith (R. R. Hogg, Car: Cr: H.M.S. Powerful) impressed naming;
British War and Victory Medals (340625 R. R. Hogg. Cpr. 1. R.N.);
Royal Navy LS&GC Ed VII (340625 R. R. Hogg, Cooper, H.M.S. Latona.)

Robert Rutherford Hogg was born at Melrose, Scotland, on 20 February 1876; a carpenter by trade prior to joining the Royal Navy, he naturally enlisted as Carpenter’s Crew on 23 April 1895, and served in HMS Powerful from 8 June 1897 to 8 June 1900 (published transcription of medal roll gives entitlement to a no clasp Queen’s South Africa Medal; however, a contemporary newspaper account written by the recipient, dated 20 December 1899, states that he had been up at Ladysmith before he was sent back, and so perhaps he felt that he deserved the Defence of Ladysmith clasp as a result!).

Promoted Cooper on 16 February 1905, Hogg served in HMS Latona from 16 September 1909 to 8 April 1911, and was awarded his LS&GC Medal on 10 December 1910. He saw further service during the Great War in the battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth from 8 March 1916 to 15 April 1919, and was shore demobilised on 16 December 1919.

ADM171/53p106, the empty 6th column is where clasps would be listed if earned.