Engine Room Artificer 4th Class John Reginald Cole, born Gosport, Hampshire in 1896. he entered the Royal Navy as a Boy on 21.12.1910. His service during the Great War included in HMS Queen Mary (Battlecruiser) from 22.1.1915 to 31.5.1916 when he was killed in action at the Battle of Jutland.
HMS Queen Mary, under the command of Captain C.I. Prowse, served as part of the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron at Jutland. During the battle she engaged SMS Derfflinger, putting one of her turrets out of action, and then scored four hits on SMS Seydlitz. The German battlecruiser hit back striking ´Q´ turret before sending more 12 inch shells to hit near ´A´ and ´B´ turrets before scoring another hit on ´Q´ turret. Queen Mary´s forward magazine exploded, the ship listed to port and began to sink amid more explosions. 1,245 of the crew, including Cole, went down with her.
M/2622 John Reginald Cole is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Cole's medal group 1914-15 Star ; British War and Victory Medals, together with a Royal Hospital School, Greenwich, Silver Prize Medal
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