Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Stoker Petty Officer W. Bridge, Royal Navy, later Royal Fleet Reserve, who served in H.M.S. Lance when she fired the first British shot of the Great War, 5 August 1914

1914-15 Star (300552. W. Bridge. S.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (300552 W. Bridge. S.P.O. R.N.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (300552 (Ch. A. 3708) W. Bridge. S.P.O. R.F.R.) light pitting to BWM from Star, otherwise good very fine, the last extremely fine (4) £240-280

William Bridge was born at Bradwell, Essex, on 9 September 1882, and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 28 May 1902. He was advanced Stoker Petty Officer on 19 March 1913, and transferred to H.M.S. Lance on 31 July 1914. When the Great War started at 23:00 hours on 4 August 1914, H.M.S. Lance and her sister ship H.M.S. Landrail were tasked with performing a ‘sweep’ of the North Sea. The next day, 5 August 1914, the two destroyers encountered the German minelayer Königin Luise as she was setting mines off the Dutch coast. H.M.S. Lance fired a shell from her 4 inch gun, the first British shot of the Great War, which eventually led to the sinking of the Königin Luise, making her the first naval casualty of the War- the gun which fired the shot is now on display in the Imperial War Museum.

After two years serving in H.M.S. Lance, Bridge transferred to H.M.S. Pembroke II on 12 August 1916, and spent the rest of the Great War in various shore based establishments. He was shore pensioned on 13 June 1924, subsequently joining the Royal Fleet Reserve. He died in 1977.

Sold with a postcard photograph of H.M.S. Lance, and copied research.