A Second World War B.E.M. group of six to Chief Stoker H. Watson, Royal Navy, who was killed in action when the battlecruiser Hood was sunk in action with the German battleship Bismarck at the battle of the Denmark Strait, 24 May 1941

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Ch. Sto. Harry Watson, P/K.61055 R.N.), in damaged card box of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, extremely fine (6) £1500-2000

B.E.M. London Gazette 1 July 1941 (Birthday Honours) - Chief Stoker, H.M.S. Hood.

P/K.61055 Chief Stoker Harry Watson, Royal Navy was killed in action when the battlecruiser Hood was sunk on 24 May 1941, in action with the German battleship Bismarck, in the battle of the Denmark Strait, south of Greenland. There were only three survivors from a compliment of 1,419 officers and men. Chief Stoker Harry Watson was the husband of Elsie Watson of Hull; his name is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Sold with a typed letter from the Admiralty to Mrs Elsie Watson of 23 Westbourne Avenue, Princes Avenue, Hull, dated 27 October 1941:

‘In reply to your letter of the 23rd October, I write to say that the British Empire Medal was awarded to your late husband in the Birthday Honours for zeal and devotion to duty during a period, not for any one particular action.

He was recommended in the following terms: “For his exceptional good work as Chief Stoker in charge of double bottoms and pumping and flooding parties. He is largely responsible for the high efficiency of this important part of the ship’s organisation.”’