Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Gunner James Loader, Royal Marine Artillery, who fought at Dogger Bank and Jutland in H.M.S. Tiger

1914-15 Star (R.M.A. 9270 Gr.); British War and Victory Medals (R.M.A. 9270 Gr.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (9270 Gunner, R.M.A.) mounted as worn, very fine (4) £200-240

James Loader was born in Petersfield, Hampshire, on 27 August 1881. A Plumber by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Marines at Estney on 19 January 1901. After training he was rated as a Gunner in November 1901. He served as a Gunner aboard the battlecruiser Tiger throughout the Great War, September 1914-July 1919. As such he saw action at the battle of Dogger Bank, 24 January 1915. In the action the ship was hit several times and lost 10 men. Like other ships of the battlecruiser squadron, the accuracy of her main armament was inaccurate and of 255 shell expended, only one was observed to hit. As a consequence, the Gunnery Officer was dismissed. Gunner Loader aboard the Tiger was next in action at the battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916. Whilst her accuracy had improved, she took some heavy blows from her opposite numbers, being hit by 15 heavy calibre shells, causing the deaths of 24 of her crew. On 17 November 1917 the Tiger was again in action at the second battle of Heligoland Bight. Awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in March 1916, he was discharged to a pension in January 1922 after which he transferred to the Royal Naval Reserve.

With a photograph of the recipient and his wife set within a frame in the form of a life-belt inscribed, ‘H.M.S. Tiger’. With ‘H.M.S. Tiger’ cap tally, copied service paper, extracts from the Tiger’s log and other research.