Description

Offered is an Africa General Service Medal to W.J. Couzens, who had previously served in Somaliland and the Boer War at the Defence of Ladysmith, who during WW1 survived the Battle of Heligoland Bight and Falkland Islands 1914, only to be killed in action whilst aboard H.M.S Invincible, which exploded during the Battle of Jutland.

Africa General Service Medal (1902-56), with clasp SOMALIALAND 1902-04, impressed named 340014. W.J. COUZENS, SH.CK. H.M.S. MOHAWK. Comes with a length of original ribbon, this with adhesive from display mounting to rear.

Chief Ships Cook Walter James Couzens was born on 21/5/1875 at Portsmouth, England. A baker by trade he enlisted into the Royal Navy on 24/1/1894 as a 2nd Class Cooks Mate. He served on a variety of H.M. ship and shore bases, these included: Empress of India, Magnificent, Blenheim, Centurion, Grafton, Tamar, Barfleur. During the Boer War he served aboard H.M.S. Powerful (Powerful-class protected cruiser) serving from 1/9/1899 – 8/5/1900 and was part of the ship’s crew that were involved in the Siege of Ladysmith. He continued to serve aboard Duke of Wellington, Iphigenia, Pembroke 1, Mohawk (Tribal-class destroyer) from 8/1/1903 – 13/7/1904, qualifying for the Naval General Service Medal with clasp SOMALILAND 1902-04, continuing on Firequeen, Revenge, Roxburgh, Berwick, Victory, Vengeance, Bellerophon and Weymouth. He was promoted to Chief Ships Cook 1/10/1907.

During WW1 he served on H.M.S Invincible (Invincible-class battlecruiser) from 3/8/1914 – 31/5/1916. He was at the Battle of Heligoland Bight on 28/8/1914 and the Battle of the Falklands on 8/12/1914. During the Battle of the Falklands the Invincible fired some 513 shells from her main guns and received 22 hits, suffering one man killed and 5 wounded. At the Battle of Jutland, the Invincible was part of the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron. In the early part of the battle the Invincible hit the S.M.S Wiesbaden (light cruiser) in the engine room, knocking out her engines (this led to the ultimate loss of the Wiesbaden with only one survivor). The Invincible avoided a torpedo attack in return. During battles the cooks were part of damage control and casualty teams. The destruction of the Invincible At a range of 8.2 km the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron opened fire on the S.M.S Lützow and Derfflinger. The Lützow took ten hits from H.M.S. Lion, Inflexible and Invincible (including two hits below the waterline forward by Invincible that would ultimately doom her). In return the Invincible appeared as a clear target to the two German ships, who fired three salvos each at Invincible, sinking her in ninety seconds. At least one 12-inch shell from the third salvo struck her midships ‘Q’ turret. The shell penetrated the front of ‘Q’ turret, blew off the roof and detonated the midships magazines, which blew the ship in half. Out of the crew of 1,026, there were only six survivors. Walter has no known grave and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.