Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (J.31860 W. Keen, A.B., H.M.S. Concord) edge bruising, contact marks, nearly very fine £50-70

William Keen was born in Clapham, London on 25 September 1898. He entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on Powerful on 30 June 1914, being advanced to Boy 1st Class in January 1915. He served at Defiance, January-March 1915 and then for the remainder of the war on the battleship Warspite, April 1915-December 1918.

At the battle of Jutland, 31 May-1 June 1916, the battleship, formed part of the 5th Battle Squadron - attached Beattie’s Battlecruiser Squadrons and was heavily involved in the battle. During the course of the action, her steering became jammed and she made two involuntary circles, making her a tempting target for all the enemy heavy guns that could be brought to bear upon her. She suffered some 13 heavy calibre hits. Eventually regaining some control over the steering, the damaged ship was sent home.

With copied service paper and details re the action at Jutland.