Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War Dardanelles operations D.S.M. group of five awarded to Petty Officer C. Hocken, Royal Navy, who volunteered for a seemingly suicidal mission to sweep mines under the mighty guns of three Turkish forts - an exploit duly enacted under full-blown searchlight illumination and a galling fire

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (148252 C. Hochen, P.O. 1 Cl., H.M.S. Albion), note surname spelling; 1914-15 Star (14852 C. Hocken, D.S.M., P.O. 1, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (148252 C. Hocken, P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (148252 Charles Hocken, Boatn., H.M. Coast Guard), very fine and better (5) £1800-2200

D.S.M. London Gazette 16 August 1915:

‘For services in H.M. Trawlers on the night of 13-14 March 1915.’

Charles Hocken was born in Cornwall in March 1873 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in March 1889. Having then gained advancement to Petty Officer 1st Class in October 1897, but seen no active service, he transferred to the Coast Guard as a Boatman in early 1903, and was awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in April 1906. Subsequently pensioned ashore in December 1913, he was enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve, and was quickly recalled on the outbreak of hostilities, when he joined H.M.S. Albion.

Having seen action off German South-West Africa towards the end of 1914, the Albion was ordered to the Dardanelles where she would support the Gallipoli landings. Yet it was for a most gallant minesweeping operation that Hocken won his D.S.M., having volunteered for a daring enterprise in H.M. Trawler 102 on the night of 13-14 March 1915. The Official History of the Royal Navy in the Great War takes up the story:

‘Two powerful searchlights were illuminating the approach, and as soon as the boats entered the lighted area they came under fire from Dardanos and Messudieh forts, as well as Rumili, and possibly also Yildiz, and old advanced battery of the Kilid Bahr group with six short 6-inch guns high up on the edge of the plateau. Thus supported, the light guns of the minefield defence were as galling as ever. But there was no stopping the new crews. On they went through the storm of shell till the point was reached where the downward sweep was to begin. By that time they had suffered heavily. In two of the trawlers all the working crew were killed or wounded, and in the others so much damage had been done to gear and winches that only two of them could get out their sweep. Still they carried on as best they could and with some little effect. A number of mines were destroyed, and the picket-boats that were of the party did excellent service in blowing up cables and explosive sweeps. Finally they got through without the loss of a single vessel, though four trawlers and one of the picket boats were put out of action. The casualties were more serious. They amounted to 27 killed and 43 wounded ... As the Admiral reported, it was a very gallant enterprise, admirably conducted by all concerned.’

And, as verified by official records, Hocken’s trawler was one of the two that somehow managed to deploy their sweep:

‘The handling of Trawlers No. 92 and No. 102, the only two who successfully got their sweeps out and swept down through the minefield to Aren Kuoi Bay, was most commendable. This in no way reflected on the handling of the other craft whose failure in each case was due either to heavy casualties or gear being destroyed by fire before they reached the turning point’ (T.N.A. ADM 137/1089 refers).

Returning home in the Albion in May 1916, Hocken served at the torpedo establishment Defiance in June-November 1916, and in the depot and repair ship Sandhurst from the latter month until March 1917, but he was invalided ashore later in the same year; sold with copied service record and official Dardanelles reports.