Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

1914-15 Star (202026 A. J. Mayers. A.B., R.N.) good very fine £80-120

Arthur Joseph Mayes (note spelling of surname) served during the Great War in H.M.S. Queen Mary and was killed in action at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. During the battle H.M.S. Queen Mary, under the command of Captain C. I. Prowse, engaged the Derfflinger, putting one of her turrets out of action, and then scored four hits on SMS Seydlitz. The German battlecruiser hit back striking ´Q´ turret before sending more 12 inch shells to hit near ´A´ and ´B´ turrets before scoring another hit on ´Q´ turret. Queen Mary´s forward magazine exploded, the ship listed to port and began to sink amid more explosions. 1,266 of the crew went down with her, with only 18 men surviving. Mayes is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

Sold together with an Admiralty letter addressed to Mr. H. C. Smith informing him that Stoker 1st Class Walter Smith, H.M.S. Queen Mary was killed in action at Jutland; and a Princess Mary Christmas 1914 tin with photograph and souvenir badge.