Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Able Seaman H. Brandon, Royal Navy, who was wounded but survived the sinking of H.M.S. Raglan off Imbros on 20 January 1918
1914-15 Star (J.21367. H. Brandon. A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.21367 H. Brandon. A.B. R.N.) contact marks, better than good fine

Pair: W. G. Smith, Mercantile Marine
British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals (Walter G. Smith) nearly very fine

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (L.12509 L. S. Windebank. L. Std. H.M.S. Nelson.) minor official correction to ship, very fine (6) £100-£140

Harry Brandon was born in Holborn, London, on 3 January 1897 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 11 November 1912. He served during the Great War in the monitor H.M.S. Raglan from 7 January 1917, and was wounded in action when Raglan was brought to action by the enemy cruisers Breslau and Goeben off Imbros on 20 January 1918 - hit by Breslau’s opening salvo, Raglan barely got into action, and subsequent enemy hits found her magazine, as a result of which she sank in shallow water in Kusa Bay with a loss of 127 officers and men.

Brandon’s own Certificate for Wounds and Hurts, dated 10 September 1918, states: ‘Sustained 2 wounds from shell fragments in the action with Goeben and Breslau on 20 January 1918, one in back on the left side, the other in the left side of the chest... also suffers from nervous shock after being wounded, and has since developed epilepsy, having had 27 fits since January 1918.’ He was invalided out of the service on account of his wounds on 25 September 1918.

Sold with the recipient’s original Certificate for Wounds and Hurts; and copied record of service.