Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Petty Officer W. R. Cory, Royal Navy, killed by the internal explosion that destroyed H.M.S. Vanguard, 9 July 1917

1914-15 Star (237154 L.S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (237154 P.O., R.N.); Memorial Plaque (William Richard Cory) this last in card envelope, virtually extremely fine (4) £200-260

William Richard Cory was born in Canterbury, Kent on 8 March 1889. He entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 31 July 1906 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in October 1906. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in March 1907 when on Victorious; Able Seaman in March 1908 on Leviathan and Leading Seaman in August 1912 when on Intrepid. Cory was posted to the dreadnought battleship Vanguard in November 1913 and served aboard her at the battle of Jutland. He was killed aboard the same vessel when she blew up, due to an internal explosion, when lying at Scapa Flow on 9 July 1917. Out of a compliment of 670, only one officer and two seamen were saved. Cory was the eldest son of Richard William Cory, of Fernside, Middle Deal Road.

With copied service paper, newspaper obituary bearing his photograph and other research.