Description
1914-15 Star British War and Victory Medal, Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, William Tobin, Able Seaman, Royal Navy and post war Royal Australian Navy, an underage boy of only 17 at the Battle of Jutland on HMS Iron Duke.
Star officially impressed: “J 39916, W. Tobin. Boy 1, R.N.”
WW1 Pair officially impressed: “J39916 W. Tobin. A.B. R.N.”
RFR LSGC Officially impressed: “J39916 (C.H. B. 20051) W. Tobin. A.B. R.F.R.”
Also with an original bullion stripes badge and anchor button.
Ribbons frayed in parts but all original silk examples.
William Tobin, was born on 15th April 1899, and was a young School Boy when he signed on with the Royal Navy during the war during 1915.
His place of birth was noted at the time as “Unknown”, possibly an Orphan, some were raised by the Royal Navy Boys Schools to become Seaman when they turned 15.
William Tobin spent most of the war on board the Dreadnought Battleship, HMS Iron Duke from 26th July 1915 until 8th March 1921.
During this time he saw much active service, whilst still an underage Boy 1st Class who just had his 17th Birthday, the Iron Duke with the Grand Fleet was engage in the epic Battle of Jutland, during the battle his ship was lucky to evade damage and landed multiple confirmed hits on the SMS Konig, landing at least 7 hits and inflicting significant damage.
Later in the battle the Iron Duke would also claim the sinking of the destroyer SMS S35 thanks to a salvo fired from the Iron Duke.
Following further service during the War, he would be again deployed the Black Sea to take part in the Allied Intervention in the Russian Civil War, where the Iron Duke was involved in the destruction of warships and other materiel that might be used by the Bolsheviks at Constantinople on their way to Russia on 7th April 1919.
After arriving in Russia the Iron Duke met the White Russian Cruiser General Kornilov on 12th October 1919. During their time in the region shore parties were detached to destroy Turkish guns.
After returning back home and leaving his ship, he would be sent over to Australia to be loaned to the fledling Royal Australian Navy spending the remaining 4 years of his 12 year career in Australia.
He joined the Royal Australian Navy’s London Depot on 15th Jan 1923.
Then HMAS Penguin, 30th Jan 1923 – 21st march 1923
HMAS Platypus (HMAS Stalwart), 22nd March 1923 – 1st Dec 1924
HMAS Penguin, 2nd Dec 1924 – 3rd March 1925
HMAS Cerberus, 4th March 1925 – 16th June 1925
HMAS Adelaide, 17th June 1925 – 14th Jan 1927.”
He was shore pensioned by purchase “Approves discharge by purchase in Australia subject to enrolment in RFR if found fit.”
He joined on with the RFR serving from 1927 until 1939, during this time he earned his RFR LSGC Medal.
