Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Leading Seaman L. E. T. Grundy, Royal Navy, who died of his injuries when H.M.S. Glatton was destroyed by an internal explosion at Dover on 16 September 1918

1914-15 Star (J.27569 L. E. W. Grundy, Boy 1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.27569 L. E. T. Grundy, A.B. R.N.) note different initials, extremely fine (3) £160-200

Leonard Ewart Turner Grundy was born in Willesden, London on 3 June 1898. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on Ganges in September 1913 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in May 1914. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in June 1916 when on the cruiser Minerva and to Able Seaman in March 1917 when on the same vessel. Posted to the monitor Glatton in August 1918, he died of his injuries on 17 September 1918, aged 20 years, when the ship was destroyed by an internal explosion when at anchor in Dover Harbour the day before. Grundy was buried in the Bournemouth East Cemetery, Hampshire. He was the son of Reeves Turner Grundy and Gertrude Lucy Emma Grundy of ‘St. Leonards’, 32 Court Road, Bournemouth.

The monitor Glatton was moored in Dover Harbour, when at about 6 o’clock in the afternoon on 16 September 1918 one of her magazines exploded, shattering the ship and shaking the town and surrounding area. Ships and boats moved quickly towards the fiercely burning wreck in order to rescue the living. Survivors were brought ashore, many suffering horrific burns and fractured limbs. With the ship burning fiercely there was a great danger that one or more of its other magazines would also explode. In order to save the town and other vessels nearby, some of which were loaded with ammunition and combustibles, the decision was taken to torpedo the ship and sink it, despite the men that might still be alive on board. This was put into effect and after several hits the Glatton heeled over and at 8 o’clock sank.

It was fortunate that many members of the ship’s compliment were ashore at the time of the explosion. However, the loss of life was very heavy, with 60 men being killed outright, with 124 injured of whom 19 later died of their injuries. Four Albert Medals were awarded to Royal Naval personnel for their gallantry in rescuing a number of badly injured men from the ship. With copied service paper and other research.