A most unusual Great War M.B.E. group of four awarded to Gunner Thomas Hopkins, Royal Navy, Officer-in-Charge of H.M.S. Vernon’s Divers

The Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) 1st type; British War and Victory Medals (Gnr., R.N.) with their named card boxes of issue; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (155644 C.P.O. H.M.S. Black Prince) this with small official correction; together with Royal Naval Temperance Society Medals (2): silver medal with two enamelled bars inscribed ‘10 Years’ and ‘The Victory Medal’, and a silver and enamel cross with enamelled ribbon bar for ‘Three-Years’, good very fine (6) £300-400

Thomas Hopkins was commissioned as Acting Gunner (Temp) on 26 October 1917, and in 1919 is shown as attached to H.M.S. Vernon, Torpedo School at Portsmouth. He was awarded the M.B.E. (Military in 1919. The following recommendation is taken from official records:

‘This Warrant Officer previous to his promotion, 26 October 1917, whilst a C.P.O., R.F.R., carried out the duties of Diver in H.M.S. Vernon, during which period he displayed great zeal, exceptional ability and disregard of danger.

In October and November, 1915, on the occasion of Velox being sunk, he recovered the explosives and remaining torpedo, which was in a most dangerous and awkward position, the safety pin of the pistol being out and the fan unwound.

During April 1917, he destroyed the wreck of a full rigged ship in the Channel 8 miles W. by S. of St Catherine’s in 21 fathoms. The strong tides and wreckage made this a very dangerous operation. During the War he has recovered 574 torpedoes, been employed on the examination of laid experimental mines in deep water and carried out the usual routine work, having spent in all 1495 hours under water.

Since his promotion he has been in charge of Vernon’s divers and has given every satisfaction, and in this capacity has continued to dive himself.’