Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Long Service medal awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer H. S. Read, Royal Navy, killed in action aboard H.M.S. Ardent at the battle of Jutland, 1 June 1916

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (268128 H. S. Read, C.E.R.A.1Cl., H.M.S. Leander) edge bruise, nearly extremely fine
£80-100

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Ron Tuppen Collection of Naval Medals to Engine Room Officers.

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Henry Spencer Read was born in Southwark, London on 2 July 1872. Entering the Royal Navy in March 1894, he attained the rank of Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class in December 1908. Awarded the L.S. & G.C. in 1909 on Leander. Read joined destroyer Adent and the depot ship Hecla in February 1914.

The Ardent formed part of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet at the battle of Jutland, 31 May/1 June 1916. In the early hours of the 1 June, the lone destroyer ran foul of the German fleet as it steamed through the ‘soft tail’ of Grand Fleet. Caught in a blaze of searchlights she became the target of every German gun that could bear upon her and was swiftly destroyed. Four officers and 74 ratings, including C.E.R.A. 1st Class Read were killed; only one officer and one rating survived the sinking.

He was the husband of Emily Read, of 7 Hunter Road, Southsea, Portsmouth.

With copied service paper.