Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Memorial Plaque (William John Garner) in torn paper envelope with card outer cover, extremely fine £70-£90

William John Garner was born in Bromley, Essex, on 15 August 1896. An errand boy, he joined the Royal Navy at Portsmouth on 26 January 1913 and was appointed Boy 2nd Class. Raised Ordinary Seaman 15 August 1914, and Able Seaman 13 February 1915, he was posted to the M-Class destroyer Opal on 15 March 1916 and served at Scapa Flow attached to 12th Destroyer Flotilla. Present at the engagement of U-67 on 24 July 1917, Garner’s promising naval career was ended when Opal crashed headlong into rocks off the east coast of South Ronaldsay on 12 January 1918; the ship was later found battered and broken on the Clett of Crura, all the crew - bar 1 survivor - having succumbed to the sea and dreadful weather conditions.