TOPIC:

DUNT, W. C.

REG. NO.: 182.308
RANK: ABLE SEAMAN
REGT: ROYAL NAVY, H.M.S. RACOON
BARS: NO BARS AS ISSUED

REMARKS / HISTORY:
1. VERIFIED - FEVYER AND WILSON, PAGE 92
2 C/W BRITISH WAR MEDAL, 182308 W.C. DUNT, A.B. R.N.
3. HMS Racoon- 3rd Class twin screw cruiser of 1,770 tons and 2500-4500 HP. Served between January 1900 and July 1900. Commanded by Commander G H Hewett and Commander A E A Grant. Detached from East Indies station.
4. 178 NO BAR MEDALS ISSUES TO SHIP.



Mike

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (0) (H. A. Waterfield, A.B. HMS Racoon.);
AGS 1902 (1) Somaliland 1902-04 (H. A. Waterfield, Lg. Sea. HMS Pomone.);
1914-15 Star (166536, H. A. Waterfield, P.O., R.N.);
BWM and VM (166536 H. A. Waterfield. P.O. R.N.)

Henry Ambrose Waterfield was born in Hackney, London in December 1876. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in April 1892, and advanced to Petty Officer 2nd Class in May 1905. Waterfield served with H.M. Ships Racoon, February 1898 - July 1901, and Pomone, July 1902 - August 1904. He was reduced to Able Seaman in January 1907, before advancing to Petty Officer in January 1915.

Waterfield served with HMS Lord Nelson (battleship) for the entirety of the Great War, during which time she served in the Dardanelles Campaign becoming the flagship of the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron. Watefield was demobilised in August 1919, and joined the Coastguard.

Waterfield arrived safely in Canada yesterday and is now sitting on my desk in front of me!

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (0) C. Cobley, Plbr's Mte: H.M.S. Racoon);
Royal Navy LS&GC GV (341205 Charles Cobley, Plumber, H.M.S. Albion)

Spink note one of 176 medals issued to Racoon.

Charles Cobley was born at St. Austell, Cornwall on 6 February 1875 and enlisted with the rank of Plumber's Mate on 5 June 1896, listing previous experience as a Plumber. His first service afloat was with Racoon which he joined on 1 February 1898 serving until July 1901 when he was posted to Pembroke.

Advanced Plumber there on 1 August 1901 he continued to serve for the next ten years, seeing serving with Swiftsure, Sappho and Albion. It was in the last posting that he fell ill and was sent to the Royal Naval Hospital at Chatham, only to die there on 20 September 1911.