Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Ship’s Steward Assistant W. G. E. Lee, Royal Navy

British War and Victory Medals (M.23273 S.S.A., R.N.); together with card box of issue, extremely fine (2) £30-40

William George Ellis Lee was killed at Scapa Flow on 9 July 1917 when H.M.S. Vanguard blew up as a result of an internal eplosion, with the loss of nearly every man on board. 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. Natal, and H.M.S. Princess Irene. 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.