WW1 Battle of Jutland and North Sea Submarine Service 1918, NGSM (Palestine 1936-1939) and WW2 Officer’s Medal Group of Eight – Commander G.G. Slade, Royal Navynder

A first world war Battle of Jutland and North Sea Submarine Service, inter-war submarine commander, and Palestine Arab Rebellion to second world war Fleet Photographic Officer’s group awarded to Commander Gerald Gordon Slade, Royal Navy. 

1914-15 Star named to Mid. G.G. Slade, R.N. 
British War Medal named to S.Lt G.G. Slade. R.N. 
WW1 Victory Medal named to S.LtG.G. Slade. R.N. 
Naval General Service Medal (Clasp – Palestine 1936-1939) named to Lt. Commr. G.G. Slade. R.N. 
1939-45 Star unnamed as issued 
Atlantic Star unnamed as issued 
WW2 Defence Medal unnamed as issued 
War Medal 1939-45 unnamed as issued 

The medals are in good condition and are swing mounted for wear. Together with matching group of miniature medals. 

Gerald Gordon Slade was born on 27th October 1899 in Reigate, Surrey, and as a Naval Cadet, entered the service in September 1912, and was still undergoing training on the outbreak of the Great War, being then commissioned as a Midshipman on 8th September 1915 when posted aboard the battlecruiser Inflexible, and serving as part of the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron with the Grand Fleet. As such, Slade was aboard Inflexible at the Battle of Jutland on 31st May 1916 when she formed part of Admiral Hood’s Invincible Class battlecruiser force, and at 18:21, with both Beatty and the Grand Fleet converging on him, Hood turned south to lead Beatty’s battlecruisers. Hipper’s battlecruisers were 9,000 yards away and the Invincibles almost immediately opened fire on Hipper’s flagship, Lutzow, and Derfflinger. Lützow quickly took ten hits from Lion, Inflexible and Invincible, including two hits below the waterline forward by Invincible that would ultimately doom her. But at 18:30, Invincible abruptly appeared as a clear target before Lützow and Derfflinger. The two German ships then fired three salvoes each at Invincible, and sank her in 90 seconds. A 305 mm (12-inch) shell from the third salvo struck the roof of Invincible’s midships ‘Q’ turret, flash detonated the magazines below, and the ship blew up and broke in two, killing all but six of her crew of 1,032 officers and men, including Rear-Admiral Hood. 

Inflexible and Indomitable remained in company with Beatty for the rest of the battle. They encountered Hipper’s battlecruisers only 10,000 yards away as the sun was setting about 8:19 and opened fire. Seydlitz was hit five times before the German battlecruisers were rescued by the appearance of the battleships of Rear Admiral Mauve and the British shifted fire to the new threat. Three of the pre-dreadnoughts were hit before they too were able to turn into the gloom.

The loss of three battlecruisers at Jutland (the others were Queen Mary and Indefatigable) led to the force being reorganised into two squadrons, with Inflexible and Indomitable in the 2nd BCS. However, after Jutland there was little significant naval activity for the Invincibles, other than routine patrolling, thanks to the Kaiser’s order that his ships should not be allowed to go to sea unless assured of victory. Two torpedoes fired by the German U-Boat U-65 during one of these patrols on 19th August 1916 missed astern. On 1st February 1918, she collided with the British submarine K22 off the Isle of May with minor damage. 

Slade had applied for service in submarines in November 1917, and as such was posted off Inflexible and transferred to Dolphin to undertake the submariners course on 4th March 1918, being promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 15th May 1918. He then saw service towards the end of the war aboard the submarine J4 from 26th August 1918, and then transferred to the submarine H30 from February 1919, having operated in the North Sea. Slade was appointed to Acting Lieutenant on 15th May 1920, and subsequently confirmed in that rank. By March 1923 he was serving aboard submarines on the China Station with the 4th Submarine Flotilla, and was 1st Lieutenant of the submarine L33 as of June 1923. 

By October 1924 he was back home and unmaking the Periscope Course, which would qualify for command of a submarine, and by the end of that year had been appointed to the command of the submarine R4. After a period aboard surface ships, and promotion to Lieutenant Commander on 15th May 1928, he was back with the submarines and in command of the submarine L18 in December 1929. He handed over command in 1930, and then saw service on various Staff postings. In May 1936 he was appointed the Fleet Photographic Officer, and would remain as such right through into the Second World War, having served in this role during the operations on and off the coast of Palestine during the Arab Rebellion. From January 1942 he had command of the School of Photography, and was promoted to Commander on 27th October 1944. Placed on the Retired List, he however remained actively employed in this capacity, until he reverted to the Retired List on 13th November 1946.