Three: Stoker Second Class E. Mellor, H.M.S. Lion, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (SS. 116686, E. Mellor, Sto. 2, R.N.; British War and Victory Medals (SS.116686 E. Mellor. Sto. 1 R.N.) good very fine (3) £70-£90

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.

Ernest Mellor was born in Manchester on 31 March 1895 and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class on 22 January 1915, serving during the Great War in H.M.S. Lion. He was shore discharged on 9 February 1919, and subsequently joined the Royal Fleet Reserve.