Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Stoker First Class H. Waters, H.M.S. Lion, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (SS.111009 H. Waters. Sto.1, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (S.S. 111009 H. Waters. Sto.1 R.N.) contact marks, very fine (3) £60-£80

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals for the Battle of Jutland.

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The battle cruiser H.M.S. Lion was launched on 6 August 1910 and was Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty’s fleet flagship of the Battle Cruiser Fleet at the Battle of Jutland. She was hit a total of 14 times during the battle, including sustaining near-catastrophic damage to Q-turret, and suffered 99 dead and 51 wounded. Although mortally wounded, Major Francis Harvey, Royal Marines, the Q-turret gun commander, ordered the magazine and turret to be flooded, which although costing him his life saved the magazine from exploding, which would undoubtedly have sunk the ship; for his bravery and self sacrifice he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

Herbert Waters was born in Rochdale, Lancashire, on 7 November 1892 and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 30 June 1911. Promoted Stoker 1st Class on 1 August 1912, he served during the Great War in H.M.S. Lion from the outbreak of War to 9 October 1916, and was shore demobilised on 1 March 1919.