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Prod. Code:
4329
Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-14
Named to; 224950 E.W. Thomas A.B. HMS Hyacinth, R.N.
Ernest William Thomas was born in Camberwell, London in 1887, he had worked as a Messenger and at age 18, enlisted in the Royal Navy. He served on 22 different ships as an Able Seaman including the HMS HYACINTH which saw action in the Persian Gulf between 1909-14, he served on various shore bases and ships in WW1 including M.F.A. Angora from July 1915-April 1917 when she was involved in Minelaying and sunk at least one German warship. He also served later on HMS Tower and Artois (an armed Merchant Cruiser).
Good very fine
The fifth “HYACINTH” was an 11-gun twin-screw cruiser, launched at Glasgow in 1898. She was of 5600 tons, 10,000 horse-power, and 20 knots speed. Her length, beam, and draught were 350ft., 54ft., and 20ft. In 1904 the “Hyacinth,” commanded by Captain the Hon. Horace Hood, and flying the flag of Rear-Admiral George Atkinson-Willes, was at the head of a squadron of three ships which took part in the Somaliland campaign. On April 20th the “Hyacinth,” and “Fox” arrived off the Gulluli River after dark, and on the following day a small landing party went ashore under Flag-Captain Hood. One hundred and twenty-five men of the Hampshire Regiment accompanied the sailors. The brigade advanced upon Fort Illig in face from a brisk fire from rifles, and two old fashioned cannon loaded with mixed iron, and finally carried the place at the point of the bayonet. The “Hyacinths’” subsequently cleared the village and some caves at the bottom of the cliffs. The enemy left between 60 and 70 dead, and the British re-embarked with a loss of 3 killed and 11 wounded. Fort Illig was then reduced, and the British ships withdrew. At various dates the “Hyacinth,” while commanded by Captain J.D Dick and flying the flag of Rear-Admiral E.J.W. Slade, was employed in the prevention of the gun-running traffic in the Persian Gulf. 760 rifles were captured off the Jagin River on one occasion.
