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HMS Fearless served between December 1899 and August 1900. Her commander was Commander H R P Floyd.


Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (0) (H. W. J. Alexaner, A.B., H. M. S. Fearless.) small impressed naming;
1914-15 Star (186066, H. W. J. Alexander, A.B., R.N.);
BWM and VM (186066 H. W. J. Alexander. A.B. R.N.);
Royal Fleet Reserve LS&GC GV, 1st issue (186066 (Po. B.799) H. W. J. Alexander. A.B. R.F.R.)

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2001.

Approximately 145 (0) Queen’s South Africa Medals awarded to HMS Fearless.

Henry William James Alexander was born in Camberwell, London, on 14 November 1879 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 4 October 1895. He joined HMS Fearless on 15 November 1897, was promoted Able Seaman on 25 March 1899, and served in her during the Boer War. He purchased his discharge on 29 October 1903, and joined the Royal Fleet Reserve at Portsmouth the following day.

Following the outbreak of the Great War Alexander was recalled to the service on 2 August 1914, and served in HMS Glory from that date to 10 April 1916, and thence in HMS Victory I. He was shore demobilised on 5 February 1919.

Henry William James Alexander was my great uncle. Amazing to see his medals.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (0) (F. D. Purnell, A.B., HMS Fearless) small impressed naming, suspension claw re-pinned;
1914-15 Star (183408. F. D. Purnell, A.B., R.N.);
BWM and VM (183408 F. D. Purnell. A.B. R.N.)

Frederick David Purnell was born in Croydon, Surrey in February 1880. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in April 1895, and advanced to Able Seaman in September 1898. Purnell served with HMS Fearless, January 1897 - November 1900, and with HMS Hawke (cruiser) from 7 August 1914. He was discharged dead when on 15 October 1914, ‘Drowned in North Sea when HMS Hawke was sunk by a German submarine’ (Service Papers refer).

On the above date the Hawke had been on patrol off Aberdeen when she was struck and sunk by a torpedo fired by U-9. Whilst there were survivors, Purnell was amongst 524 of the crew that lost their lives. Able Seaman Purnell is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (0) (T. L. Maxey, E.R.A. HMS Fearless);
1914-15 Star (152680 J. L. Maxey, E.R.A. 1., R.N.);
BWM and VM (152680 T. L. Maxey. E.R.A. 1 R.N.);
Royal Navy LS&GC EdVII. (T. L. Maxey, E.R.A. 1 Cl., HMS Powerful.) note incorrect first initial on 1914-15 Star, this has a hand engraved additional top straight line to the initial ‘J’, to make it look more like a letter ‘T’,

Tom Lang Maxey was born on 21 September 1866, in Bedfordshire. He commenced naval service as an Acting Engine Room Artificer Fourth Class in HMS Asia, on 7 January 1890. He was posted to HMS Ringarooma, on 3 February 1891, and advanced to Engine Room Artificer Fourth Class, on 16 March 1892, and Engine Room Artificer Third Class, on 16 September 1893. He was appointed to HMS Fearless, as Engine Room Artificer Second Class, on 15 November 1897, until his posting to HMS Duke of Wellington on 9 November 1900. He was advanced to Engine Room Artificer First Class, HMS Warrior on 15 September 1902. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1905, and was shore pensioned in 1912, but was recalled for war service in the Great War and served in HMS King Alfred, HMS Victory and HMS Assistance. He was demobilized to shore in March 1919. He died in 1936 in London.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (0) (F. James, Ldg: Car: Cr: HMS Fearless);
1914-15 Star (341996, F. James, Ch. Shpt., R.N.);
BWM and VM (341996 F. James. Ch. Shpt., R.N.);
Royal Navy LS&GC GV, 1st issue (341996 Frank James, Shipt., 1Cl., HMS Imperieuse);
Royal Naval MSM GV (341996 F. James, Ch. Shipwt. 2Cl. “Caledon” Services During War)

Together with a small silver medal for Their Majesties Visit to India 1911-12.

MSM LG 27 June 1919. The original recommendation states: ‘The Carpenter being on leave this Chief Petty Officer, in charge of the Carpenter ratings, did splendid and intelligent service in shoring up the large hole made by a 12-inch shell, through which a dangerous quantity of water would otherwise have entered, likely to impair the ship’s further fighting efficiency.’ The same gazette announced the award of four DSOs and one D.S.C. to Officers of HMS Caledon, all for the battle of Heligoland Bight on 17 November, 1917. HMS Caledon was Commodore Walter Cowan’s Flagship and part of the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron in what was the last ‘big-ship’ engagement of the Great War. Caledon was hit amid ships by a large calibre German shell killing and wounding most of the crew of one of her guns. Seaman J. H. Carless, although mortally wounded, continued to serve his gun before finally succumbing to his wounds. He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

Frank James was born in the Parish of Boscombe, near Christchurch, on 11 January 1878, and was a carpenter by trade when he joined the Royal Navy as Carpenter’s Crew on 11 March 1898. He served as Leading Carpenter’s Crew aboard HMS Fearless from June 1899 to November 1900, including service off the coast of South Africa (Medal). Advancing to Shipwright in January 1902 and to Leading Shipwright in April 1904, he became Carpenter’s Mate in May 1910. He joined HMS Medina on 10 October 1911, which ship conveyed the King and Queen to India for the Delhi Durbar. He received his LS&GC medal while serving in Imperieuse in March 1913 and, come the outbreak of war in 1914, Frank James was a Shipwright 1st Class aboard HMS Leviathan, advancing to Chief Shipwright in the same ship in April 1915. He served briefly in Fisgard from August to November 1916, next joining Victory II before joining Caledon in March 1917. He advanced to Chief Shipwright in Caledon in October 1918 and remained in her until 31 December 1919, when he went to Victory III and was demobilised on 28 April 1920.

The reappearance of this group from 17 months ago


Picture courtesy of JB Military Antiques

QSA (0) (T.L. MAXEY. E.R.A. H.M.S. FEARLESS);
1914 – 15 Star (152680 J.L. MAXEY, E.R.A.1., R.N.);
British War and Victory Medals (152680 T.L.MAXEY. E.R.A.1. R.N.);
Royal Navy LS&GC EdVII (T.L. MAXEY. E.R.A. 1CL. H.M.S. POWERFUL)

Described as:

Court mounted for display and comes with copy service record, medal roll and newspaper article. Engine Room Artificer First Class Tom Lang Maxey, who was born 21/9/1866 in Bedfordshire, a qualified fitter and turner, he enlisted into the Royal Navy on the 7/1/1890 as an Engine Room Artificer (E.R.A) 4th Class. He served on a variety of H.M. ships and shore installations including the Ringarooma and the Crescent from 3/2/1891 – 16/7/1896, being part of the Auxiliary Squadron of the Australia Station.

During the Boer War he served on H.M.S. Fearless from 15/11/1897 – 8/11/1900 (145 QSA Medals issued to the Fearless). He was promoted to E.R.A 1st Class 15/9/1902 being pensioned to shore on10/1//1912.

Recalled for WW1 service and served on the King Alfred from 2/8/1914 – 15/10/1914, Victory from 16/10/14 – 7/12/1914, Assistance from 8/12/1914 – 14/7/1918, Victory II 15/7/1918 – 10/3/1919 and demobilised. He died in October 1936 at Battersea, London, his medals were discovered in a Princess Mary tin in 1976 (as per newspaper article).