Great War 1914-1915 Star trio awarded to Cook’s Mate C.H. Slade, Royal Navy who saw wartime service aboard H.M.S. King Alfred during the search for the commerce raider SMS Mowe, and later aboard the disarmed minelayer H.M.S. Apollo.
Group of 3: 1914-1915 Star; (M. 13633 C.H. SLADE. CKS. MATE. 2. R.N.) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (M.13633 C.H. SLADE. CK. MTE. R.N.)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Charles Henry Slade was born in Plymouth, Devon on 24th December 1896, a printer by trade, he joined for 12 years on 29th May 1915, initially serving ashore. He would transfer to H.M.S. King Alfred on 22nd September 1915.
King Alfred was transferred to the 9th Cruiser Squadron in October 1915. By January 1916, the squadron, under the command of Rear Admiral Archibald Moore in King Alfred, was patrolling the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar and unsuccessfully searching for the commerce raider SMS Möwe.. The raider evaded all the British ships and returned to Germany before sortieing again into the Atlantic in late November. In the meantime, Rear Admiral Sydney Fremantle hoisted his flag in King Alfred on 22 September, succeeding Moore. When the Admiralty received word that Möwe was loose in the Atlantic in early December, Fremantle ordered his ships to patrol the eastern trade routes, but the raider slipped through the gap between squadrons. When the sweep was concluded, the ship returned to Freetown on 25 December. Fremantle was relieved by Rear Admiral Thomas Sheppard three days later. On her return voyage in March 1917, Möwe passed through the squadron's patrol area without being spotted.
Slade would remain aboard King Alfred until 8th August 1917, having been appointed a Cook’s Mate on 29th May 1916 during his service aboard the ship.
After a short period ashore he would serve aboard Apollo from 7th September 1917 until 16th May 1918, a disarmed former minelayer. Slade would be invalided on 28th August 1918 after a further short period ashore.