Chester Medallion

Nantwich Guardian - Friday 08 December 1916 (Page 5) H.M.S. CHESTER. The Mayor of Chester has been requested by the Commander of H.M.S. Chester to convey his thanks and those of the officers and crew to the citizens of Chester for the great interest they have taken in his ship, and also for the gifts that were sent, particularly the medallions as mementoes. Captain Lawson looks forward to the days of peace, when he may have an opportunity of visiting the city and bringing with him, if possible, some of the ship's company. The medallions referred to are of bronze and beautifully designed. On one side is the Chester coat of arms with a garter bearing the city's motto. "Anti qui colant anti quum dierum," the whole being surmounted by naval crown. On the reverse side is the name of the gallant ship, H.M.S. Chester, with an anchor and the date of the battle of Jutland, May 31st. 1916. The medallions have been given by the committee with the Mayor at the head, who presented the clocks and other gifts to the ship, and not only has each officer and member of the crew received one, but also the next-of-kin of all who fell in the action. --- The Chester Medallion The article below was written by John Lindop and was published in the April 1993 edition of 'Medal News' Permission to reproduce this article has been granted by John Lindop.

HMS Chester was one of a pair of light cruisers of 5,185 tons being built by Cammel Lairds shipyard at Birkenhead for the Greek Government and taken over by the RN during World War I. She was launched in 1915 and commissioned a year later, a matter of weeks before the Battle of Jutland in which she took part, albeit briefly, being no match for the squadron of German cruisers who were close to blowing her out of the water if a hasty withdrawal had not been occasioned. In any event, three of ten gun turrets were destroyed, the hull was seriously damaged, 35 men killed, including the Padre who was the first casualty, and 39 seriously wounded including Boy Seaman 1st Class John Travers Cornwell who posthumously received the Victori Cross and has passed down in legend, commemorated in the "Boy Stood on the Burning Deck".'  When the good citizens of Chester were advised by the Admiralty that a ship was to be named after the City they formed a Committee, chaired by the then Mayor, Alderman Frost, to see how they could support her. With funds collecrted it was decided to present HMS Chester with a set of clocks to be placed on the various messdecks, one large one for the seamen's mess and six smaller ones variously around, although why the citizens considered the HMS Chester needed clocks is not recorded. These items were supplied by Butt & Co. of Chester and the oak cases were specially made by John Garnett of Chester to represent the west end of Chester Cathedral; several have survived and were returned to Chester Town Hall ready for another HMS Chester ... one day perhaps? With the balance of funds it was decided to strike a medallion, silver for the officers and bronze for the ratings and this was

John made the following comments on 6th September 2017. Since the article was written ( my goodness, was it really 24 years ago, how time flies ??!! ) some more gen has emerged and the article needs modifying appropriately viz; there were no medallions struck in silver for the officers, they were all bronze when awarded and some were plated later for the recipients, some silver, hence the confusion and some mercury gilded, additionally some had details engraved in addition to the already engraved May 31st.,1916, names, numbers, Battle of Jutland etc , some round the rim and some on the blank space on the reverse.

They were apparently struck by Spinks and supplied by Browns the Jewellers of Chester; they are no longer in biz.

Since the article about 25 medallions have surfaced.