Description
Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, EDVII, Commissioned Boatman Arthur John Lang, H.M. Coast Guard, retired as Chief Petty Officer served 1890-1919.
Officially impressed: “A.J. LANG, Cd BOATn, H.M. COAST GUARD”
Awarded on 19th July 1905 whilst serving as a Commissioned Boatman with the at Portland Station.
With copy service papers.
Arthur John Lang was born on 15th December 1870 in St Dominic, Cornwall.
First joined the Royal Navy on 6th Jan 1890 at HMS Indus as a Stoker 2nd Class, becoming Stoker on Inflexible on 1st September 1891.
Following 2 years from May 1895 to Oct 1897 on HMS Calypso, he transferred over to the Coast Guard for the remainder of his career from 23rd November 1897.
He started off at Weymouth on Mothecombe Station as a Boatman from 23rd Nov 1897 – 2nd October 1902.
He moved over to the Chideock Station from 3rd October 1902 until 4th September 1904, during that time he was promoted up to Commissioned Boatman from 7th August 1904.
Remaining in the Southern area he joined Portland station from 5th September 1904 – 11th October 1907, during which time he earned this medal.
Moved over to Dartmouth from 12th October 1907 until 20th June 1910.
During that time he became Petty Officer 2nd Class (CG) on 1st April 1910.
On 21sst June 1910, he transferred to Western, coming back home to Cornwall being stationed at HM Coastguard “Looe”
Whilst stationed at Looe he was advanced to Petty Officer 1st Class (CG) on 1st June 1913.
Moving over to Gunnard’s Head Station in Cornwall from 5th July 1913 until 31st July 1914.
In the upcoming war he remained on service seeing the following postings:
HMS Majestic, 1st August 1914 – 27th May 1915, as Stoker, until she was sank by the German Submarine U-21 on 27th May.
HMS Vivid II, 28th May 1915 – 28th Jan 1916
Gunnard’s Head Coast Guard Station, 29th January 1916 – 30th September 1916, back as Petty Officer (CG)
HMS Predient IV (Gunnard’s Head), 1st October 1916 – 10th April 1919.
Promoted to Chief Petty Officer (CG) on 16th Jan 1919.
Notably having spent most of his career keeping the shore safe with the Coast Guard, with the outbreak of war he was recalled back to become a Stoker on HMS Majestic, during this period he saw much active service including seeing important service in the Gallipoli Campaign, where she shared the honour with the Albion and Triumph of being the very first Allied Heavy Ships to enter the Turkish Straits during the Gallipoli Campaign, firing on the inner forts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Majestic_(1895)#First_World_War
Wikipedia’s page for the ship gives a concise report on the service of the ship up until it sank:
FIRST WORLD WAR EARLY SERVICE
Upon the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, Majestic and the rest of the 7th Battle Squadron were assigned to the Channel Fleet.
Majestic underwent a refit in August and September 1914, then covered the passage of the British Expeditionary Force to France in September 1914. She was detached from the 7th Battle Squadron from 3 October 1914 to 14 October 1914 to escort the first Canadian troop convoy.
At the end of October 1914, Majestic was transferred to the Nore to serve as guard ship there. On 3 November 1914, she transferred to the Humber to serve as guard ship there.
In December 1914 she became a unit of the Dover Patrol, and combined with battleship Revenge to bombard German coastal artillery from off of Nieuwpoort, Belgium, on 15 December 1914.
In January 1915, she was based at Portland.
GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN DARDANELLES
In February 1915, Majestic was assigned to participate in the upcoming Dardanelles Campaign to open the Turkish Straits, and she departed early that month under the command of Captain H. F. G. Talbot to join the Mediterranean Fleet. Upon arriving at Malta, she was fitted with what was termed “mine-catching” gear so that she could serve as a “mine-bumper.”
She joined the Dardanelles force on 24 February 1915, and on 26 February 1915 departed Tenedos to bombard the Ottoman Turkish inner forts at the Dardanelles that morning. On 26 February 1915, Majestic and battleships Albion and Triumph became the first Allied heavy ships to enter the Turkish Straits during the campaign, firing on the inner forts from 0914 until 1740 hours. Majestic took a hit below the waterline, but was able to continue operations and patrolled the area again on 27 February 1915.
She supported the early landings, shelling the forts from 1125 until 1645 hours on 1 March 1915 and again while patrolling on 3 March 1915. She arrived at Mudros on 8 March 1915.
On 9 March 1915, Majestic circumnavigated the entrance to the Dardanelles and bombarded Ottoman Turkish positions from 1007 until 1215 hours. She returned to Tenedos on 10 March 1915, patrolled off the Dardanelles again on 15 March 1915, and again returned to Tenedos on 16 March 1915.
Majestic participated in the final attempt to force the straits by naval power alone on 18 March 1915. She opened fire on Fort 9 at 1420 hours and also engaged Turkish field guns hidden in woods. She shelled Fort 9 until she ceased fire at 1835; the fort meanwhile fired on the mortally damaged battleship Ocean. Majestic was hit four times, twice in her lower tops and twice on her forecastle, and returned to Tenedos at 2200 hours with one dead and some wounded crew members.
Majestic returned to patrol duties on 22 March 1915. She shelled Turkish positions on 28 March 1915 from 0950 to 1015 and from 1250 to 1340 hours and again opened fire on 14 April at 1458 hours. On 18 April, she fired on the abandoned British submarine E15 aground near Fort Dardanos and in danger of being captured; two picket boats, one from Majestic and one from Triumph, destroyed E15 with torpedoes, although the boat from Majestic was itself sunk by Turkish shore batteries while retiring. Majestic returned to Tenedos on 21 April 1915.
On 25 April 1915, Majestic was back in action, signalling London that Allied landings had begun at Gallipoli and supporting them with coastal bombardments until 1915 hours. She brought 99 wounded troops aboard at 2110 hours and recovered all her boats before anchoring off Gallipoli for the night.
On 26 April 1915, she was back in action early, opening fire at 0617 hours. On 27 April 1915 she exchanged fire with Turkish guns, with several Turkish shells achieving very near misses before both sides ceased firing at 1130 hours. On 29 April 1915 she again was anchored off Gallipoli.
Majestic relieved Triumph as flagship of Admiral Nicholson, commanding the squadrons supporting the troops ashore off Cape Helles, on 25 May 1915.
Loss
Majestic sinking at the Dardanelles, 27 May 1915
On 27 May 1915, while stationed off W Beach at Cape Helles, Majestic became the third battleship to be torpedoed off the Gallipoli peninsula in two weeks. Around 0645 hours, Commander Otto Hersing of the German submarine U-21 fired a single torpedo through the defensive screen of destroyers and anti-torpedo nets, striking Majestic and causing a huge explosion.
The ship began to list to port and in nine minutes had capsized in 54 feet (16 m) of water, killing 49 men. Her masts hit the mud of the sea bottom, and her upturned hull remained visible for many months until it was finally submerged when her foremast collapsed during a storm.
