Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Stoker Petty Officer W. E. Harvey, Royal Navy, killed in action when H.M.S. Aboukir was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-9, 22 September 1914

1914-15 Star (299944 S.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (299944 S.P.O., R.N.); Memorial Plaque (William Edward Harvey) extremely fine (lot) £350-450

William Edward Harvey was born in Whitstable, Kent on 14 June 1883. A Labourer by occupation, he entered the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 25 February 1902. He was promoted to Stoker when serving on Pembroke II in November 1903; Leading Stoker, on Pathfinder in May 1906 and Stoker Petty Officer on Pembroke II in December 1908. He was serving a Stoker Petty Officer aboard the armoured cruiser Bedford when she ran aground on the Samarang Rocks near the island of Quelpart in the Straits of Korea. Steaming at 19 knots at the time, the impact was so great that water flooded the stokeholds in one tremendous rush, drowning 18 petty officers and men instantly. These were the only casualties and the Bedford was eventually abandoned as a total loss. Petty Officer Harvey was discharged from the Royal Navy in February 1914 having completed his period of service, and transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve. He was mobilized for the war and served on the armoured cruiser Aboukir from 2 August 1914. He was killed in action on 22 September 1914 when the ship was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-9 (Lieutenant Otto Weddigen). His name is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

The Aboukir, together with her sister ships the Hogue and Cressy were torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U.9 when on patrol in the southern part of the North Sea. The total loss of life in this triple disaster was over 1,400 men.

Sold with a fascinating collection of items and memorabilia relating to the recipient and his loss. Including a Memorial Scroll, forwarding slips for the medals and plaque; Royal Navy Education Certificate for Stoker Petty Officer, 4 December 1908; The Holy Bible, inscribed, ‘To dear William with fond love and best wishes for the New Year, from Jesse, Dec. 27th 1901’; miniature set of playing cards; two cigarette cases - one inscribed, ‘W. J. Harvey’; ivory handled cutthroat razor in case; leather wallet; cloth tool pouch (?), inscribed, ‘W. E. Harvey’; a copy of The Shipley Times and Express, 24 December 1915, which lists and pictures Harvey as one of the ‘Eccleshill Soldiers who have made the Supreme Sacrifice’, the paper addressed to ‘Mrs W. Harvey, 2 St. Margarets St., Rochester, Kent’; ‘H.M.S. Vanquisher’ cap band, and a number of cards and letters.

Amongst the letters is one from the Accountant General of the Navy, to Mrs Harvey, living at ‘3 Water Lane, Ospringe, Nr. Faversham, Kent’, dated 31 August 1910, informing her that Petty Officer Harvey had been safely transferred from the wrecked Bedford.

Also with a card dated 7/9/1914 and a letter dated 12/9/1914 from William Harvey to his wife. Together with a letter from Engineer Lieutenant Commander Percy J. B. Huxham to Mrs Harvey, dated Devonport, 1.10.14, with envelope addressed to ‘Mrs W. Harvey, No.11 Ashfield Place, Fagley, Bradford, Yorks.’

‘Dear Mrs Harvey, Your letter of the 28th has just reached me. I regret that I am not in a position to tell you anything as to whether your huband is saved or not. One fact I can give you & that is I saw & spoke to him on the upper deck at least 10 minutes before the Ship went down. He was on watch at the time we were struck, but he was a good way from the damage & was ordered up a long time before the ship went down & so I say he was on the Upper Deck well before the end. After that I did not see him, but of course the rescued were in 4 separate lots & I do hope that he has returned to you before this. If he has returned please allow me to congratulate you, if not I offer you my deepest sympathy ... if it can in any way comfort you, remember that he died as a brave man should, fighting for his Country & his Home.’

Most of the above contained in a hinged wooden box, 305 x 201 x 150mm., bearing a metal label named, ‘2.70 W. Harvey’. Also sold with copied service paper and other research.