Great War May 1917 Battle of the Otranto Straits veteran’s group awarded to Chief Petty Officer J. Banks, Royal Navy. Bank from Magheramorne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, was aboard the cruiser Devonshire off the Norwegian Coast on the outbreak of the war. He was later aboard the light cruiser Dartmouth in the Mediterranean and the Adriatic, and participated in the Battle of the Otranto Straits on the 14-15th May 1917 when protecting the Otranto Barrage, during which action Dartmouth was hit several times by shellfire from Austro-Hungarian cruisers which she was pursuing, and had to heave to. Returning to port she was hit by a torpedo from the German submarine UC-25 and began sinking. The order to abandon ship was given but a small team volunteered to remain on board manning the pumps while the Dartmouth was towed to port and repaired.
Group of 3: 1914-1915 Star; (227623, J. BANKS. L.S., R.N.); British War Medal and Victory Medal; (227623 J. BANK. P.O. R.N.)
Condition: first with an official correction to naming, otherwise Good Very Fine.
John Banks was born on 18 November 1887 in Magheramorne, now County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and joined the Royal Navy straight from school as a Boy 2nd Class (Devonport No.227623) with Black Prince from 23 July 1903, being advanced to Boy 1st Class whilst with Emerald on 25 February 1904. He went on to serve in the gunnery branch, and was rated as an Ordinary Seaman whilst with Russell on 18 November 1905, and was still with this ship when he was advanced to Able Seaman on 21 December 1906. He was with the cruiser Devonshire when he was advanced to Leading Seaman on 28 May 1913, and was with this ship on the outbreak of the war as part of the 3rd Cruiser Squadron with the Grand Fleet, being present when she captured a German merchantman on 6 August 1914. She predominately patrolled the Norwegian Coast.
Banks was posted to Vivid I from 9 September 1916 and was promoted to Petty Officer on 1 January 1917, before being posted to the light cruiser Dartmouth from 28 April 1917 and seeing service in the Mediterranean and the Adriatic. With her he participated in the Battle of the Otranto Straits on the 14-15th May 1917 when protecting the Otranto Barrage. Dartmouth was hit several times by shellfire from Austro-Hungarian cruisers which she was pursuing, and had to heave to. Returning to port she was hit by a torpedo from the German submarine UC-25 and began sinking. The order to abandon ship was given but a small team volunteered to remain on board manning the pumps while the Dartmouth was towed to port. She was repaired and went on to survive the war. Banks was posted off her in February 1919. He was later with Delhi when he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer in March 1925, and was pensioned in November 1927. Additionally entitled to the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
