1914-15 Star

Awarded to Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee (1859-1925). A uniface star of four points, the upper covered by a crown, with two crossed swords entwined by a short scroll. Inscription: '1914-15.' An oak garland superimposed upon the whole. Inscription: 'G'. with a 'V' within it. Inscription Reverse: 'VICE-ADM SIR F.C.D.STURDEE K.C.B., C.V.O., C.M.G.' Fitted with a ring and red, white and blue watered-silk ribbon. Mounted on a bar with six others.

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee was the son of Captain Frederick Ranney Sturdee, RN. He entered the Royal Navy on 15 July 1871. At the beginning of World War I, Vice-Admiral Sturdee was serving as Chief of Naval War staff under Prince Louis of Battenberg. His tenure was marked by the loss of HMS 'Aboukir', Cressy' and 'Hogue' and the defeat of the Battle of Coronel. His old enemy, the new First Sea Lord, Sir John Fisher re-appointed Sturdee Commander in Chief, South Atlantic and South Pacific. He destroyed the German squadron led by Maximilian, Count von Spee off the Falkland Islands on 8 December 1914, avenging his earlier victory over the British. Sturdee was granted a baronetcy for this service and commanded the 4th Battle Squadron at Jutland in 1916. He was promoted Admiral in 1917 and to Admiral of the Fleet in 1921 on his retirement.
In later life he became president of the Society for Nautical Research and was active in the campaign to preserve HMS ‘Victory’.

Object Details

ID: MED2431
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: War medal
Display location: Not on display
Events: World War I, 1914-1918
Date made: circa 1918
People: Sturdee, Frederick Charles Doveton
Credit: On loan to the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, from a Private Collection
Measurements: Overall: 44 mm
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