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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 67

(x) A rare campaign group of four awarded to Stoker Petty Officer B. J. Taylor, Royal Navy, who was present for the Battle of Cocos between H.M.A.S. Sydney and S.M.S. Emden on 9 November 1914 whilst loaned to the Royal Australian Navy

1914-15 Star (296629 B. J. Taylor, S.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (296629 B. J. Taylor. S.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (296629 B. J. Taylor, S.P.O. H.M.S. Adventure.) together with H.M.A.S. Sydney - S.M.S. Emden Medal 1914, silver, 32mm, presented by the people of Western Australia, named on the reverse (B. J. Taylor. Stoker P’y Off’r) fitted with usual ring for suspension; and H.M.A.S. Sydney - S.M.S. Emden Medal, 9 November 1914, silver Mexican 8 Réales dated ‘1876’, mounted by W. Kerr, Sydney, small chop marks to both sides, this last nearly very fine, otherwise good very fine (6)

Benjamin James Taylor was born at Garston, Lancashire on 30 August 1881 and enlisted with the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 14 January 1901. His first service afloat was with Magnificent in July 1901 and he was still with her the next year when advanced Stoker on 18 February 1902. Further advanced Stoker 1st Class on 1 July 1906 and Leading Stoker on 7 September 1911 while stationed with Indus.

Transferring to Vivid II Taylor was finally promoted Stoker Petty Officer on 10 September 1912. The next year he was loaned to the nascent Royal Australian Navy on 1 March 1913, arriving at H.M.A. London Depot that same day.

Sydney - Emden

Taylor was posted to Sydney on 27 June 1913 and was still with her when the war began as she steamed north to join the battlecruiser H.M.A.S. Australia. They were assigned to the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force which seized New Guinea in September 1914. With the Pacific swiftly secured Australian troops were to be deployed to Egypt and Sydney was ordered to escort the first convoy out in November 1914.

At the same time Emden was coming to the end of her epic voyage of destruction through the Indian Ocean. Her next target was the Communications station on the Cocos Islands which she succeeded in knocking out on 9 November, however not before a distress signal was sent. The troop convoy picked up this signal and Sydney was sent out to investigate the disturbance.

Newly constructed Sydney had superior speed, armour and firepower to Emden however Captain Jessop was not aware of his opponents' capabilities. As such he agreed with the gunnery officer to open fire at a range of 9,500 yards which he believed to be outside her range. This was not the case however and it was Emden which opened the batting, opening fire and scoring hits on her fourth volley, damaging the aft rangefinders.

Emden's only hope was to cause as much damage as possible while the surprise of her attack lasted. However Sydney was in the fight now, the obvious decision would be to use her superior speed to increase the range and batter Emden from afar however the damage to her rangefinders meant that increasing the range would reduce the accuracy of her gunnery. As such she missed with her first two salvoes, destroying Emden's wireless office and her forward gun.

As the battle continued Sydney's speed and firepower began to tell, soon destroying the German vessel's steering gear and knocking out a number of guns. Another volley toppled the forward funnel and a shell landed in her aft magazine, forcing the Emden's crew to flood it. Eventually with only one gun still firing, both funnel's collapsed and the engine room ablaze Emden beached on North Keeling Island. Captain Glossop ordered Sydney to ceasefire and signalled the troop convoy 'Emden beached and done for'.

Epilogue

Taylor continued to serve with Sydney for much of the rest of the war, being returned to the Royal Navy on 23 January 1918. Posted to Adventure on 27 August he saw convoy duty with her until 11 August 1919 and went ashore for the final time. He was finally discharged on 9 June 1922, having earned a war gratuity for his service including the Emden action; sold together with copied service papers.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£2,800 to £3,200

Starting price
£2200