Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Stoker Petty Officer W. P. Lamble, Royal Navy, who fought at the Falkland Islands in H.M.S. Cornwall, killed in an air raid, 21 April 1941

1914-15 Star (K.473 L. Sto., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (K.473 S.P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (K.473 S.P.O., H.M.S. Emperor of India) mounted as worn, nearly very fine (4) £180-220

William Percy Lamble was born in Totnes, Devon, on 2 February 1889. A Farm Labourer by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 10 March 1908. Promoted to Stoker 1st Class in March 1909 when on Queen and Acting Leading Stoker in November 1913 when on Colossus. He served the early part of the war aboard the armoured cruiser Cornwall, July 1914-February 1915, serving initially off the west coast of Africa. She was then directed to the Falkland Islands to strengthen the squadron of Vice-Admiral Doveton Sturdee. On 8 December the squadron encountered that of Vice-Admiral Von Spee. In the battle of the Falkland Islands, the Cornwall together with the cruiser Glasgow chased down and sank the German light cruiser Leipzig.

Lamble then served on the cruiser Liverpool, September 1915-May 1919, during which time he was advanced to Stoker Petty Officer. In 1919 the vessel was sent to the Black Sea to support ‘White Russian’ forces. Post-war, during his service aboard the battleship Emperor of India, November 1922-May 1925, he was awarded the Long Service Medal.

During the Second World War, having previously been pensioned, Lamble took a post as Civilian Instructor at H.M.S. Drake, the R.N. shore base at Plymouth. He was killed in an air raid on the barracks, 21 April 1941, aged 52 years. He was the son of George Henry and Mary Lamble and husband of Edith Alice Lamble of Paignton. He was buried in Paignton Cemetery. With copied service papers and other research.