Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Lieutenant L. H. White, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (Lieut., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.N.); together with two embroidered cap tallies ‘H.M.S. Prince of Wales’ and H.M.S. Venerable’; original documentation, comprising, Buckingham Palace letter of condolence, dated 5.1.1916; handwritten letter of condolence from Admiral Beatty, dated 3.1.1916; H.M.S. King Edward V.II.R. Christmas card signed by recipient; photograph of recipient; and two other post card photographs of ships that White had been aboard, extremely fine (3) £400-500

Lieutenant Leonard Hale White was severely wounded on 24 January 1915 at the Battle of Dogger Bank whilst serving aboard H.M.S. Tiger, and upon recovering from his wounds was appointed Gunnery Lieutenant aboard H.M.S. Natal. He was killed whilst serving aboard this ship, when she was lying at Cromarty Harbour on 30 December 1915, and blew up as a result of an internal explosion, with the loss of over half her crew.

During the Great War the Royal Navy lost 4 ships to internal explosions whilst lying in harbour, the other three being, H.M.S. Bulwark, H.M.S. Princess Irene and H.M.S. Vanguard. At the time there was much speculation that these losses were due to sabotage by enemy agents. However the more likely explanation is that they were the result of the deterioration of the stocks of high explosives carried on board.