Orders, Decorations and Medals

Memorial Plaque 1914-18 (Reginald James Blakeney Drew) extremely fine £60-80

Lieutenant-Commander Reginald James Blakeney Drew was the son of the late Inspector-General W. B. Drew and Mrs Drew of Donnington, Fareham, Hampshire and was the husband of Norah M. Drew of Lorton House, Broadway, Dorchester. He was killed on 16 September 1918, aged 30 years, when the monitor H.M.S. Glatton accidentally exploded in Dover Harbour. He was buried in the Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham. Lieutenant-Commander Drew, R.N. was twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 12 January 1916 and 26 April 1918).

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.