Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Memorial Plaque (Charles Harold Evelyn Head) very fine £100-£140

Charles Harold Evelyn Head was born in August 1882, the son of Harold Ellershaw Head of 14 Dunsford Place, Bath. He joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet at H.M.S. Britannia in July 1896, and after passing out was posted as Midshipman to H.M.S. Blenheim. Head served with H.M.S. Goliath from March 1900 until October 1901 (entitled to China 1900 no clasp medal). He advanced to Lieutenant in October 1903, and qualified as a Torpedo Lieutenant in March 1906. Head was employed on the Staff at H.M.S. Vernon, prior to being appointed to the command of H.M.S. Vesuvius on 2 August 1914. The latter was stationed at Portsmouth and used for torpedo experimental and training purposes. Having advanced to Lieutenant Commander, Head died as a result of the Quintinshill rail disaster on 22 May 1915, a multi-train crash which occurred outside the Quintinshill signal box near Gretna Green in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. It resulted in the deaths of over 200 people and remains the worst rail disaster in British history.

Lieutenant Commander Head is buried in the Glasgow Western Necropolis, and commemorated with a wall plaque dedicated by his brother officers at H.M.N.B. Portsmouth.

Sold with copied service papers.