Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Stoker Petty Officer L. Burnard, Royal Navy, who was killed in action when H.M.S. Cressy was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-9 on 22 September 1914

1914-15 Star (149707 L. Sto., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (149707 L. Sto., R.N.); Memorial Plaque (Leonard Burnard) virtually extremely fine (4) £300-350

Stoker Petty Officer Leonard Burnard (note: paperwork gives the surname as ‘Burnand’) was killed in action when the old armoured cruiser H.M.S. Cressy was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-9 in the North Sea on 22 September 1914. Aged 45 at the time of his death, his name is commemorated on the Chatham Memorial. He was the son of Benjamin and Frances Burnard of Sheffield, and the husband of Louisa Burnard of 47 Upwell Street, Grimesthorpe, Sheffield.

The Cressy, together with her sister ships the Aboukir and Hogue, part of the 7th Cruiser Squadron, were engaged in blockade and patrol duties in the southern part of the North Sea. At 6.30 on 22 September 1914 the Aboukir was torpedoed by the U-9. Believing that the ship had struck a mine, the Hogue and Cressy stopped to rescue the survivors, oblivious of the danger lurking beneath the waves. Shortly afterwards torpedoes from the U-9 sent the Hogue and then the Cressy to the bottom. The loss of life in this disaster was heavy, with some 1,400 men being lost from the three ships.

With crumpled ‘Royal Naval Memorial’ commemorative scroll.