Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Able Seaman W S. Delaney, Royal Navy, later Royal Fleet Reserve, who served in H.M.S. Lion at the Battles of Dogger Bank and Jutland

1914-15 Star (J.3372, W. S. Delaney. A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.3372. W. S. Delaney. A.B. R.N.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (J.3372 Dev. A. 6990 W. S. Delaney. A.B. R.F.R.) good very fine and better (4) £150-200

William Sanderson Delaney was born in Lancaster on 9 August 1892 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class, serving in H.M.S. Ganges, on 25 January 1909. Advanced Ordinary Seaman in H.M.S. Leviathan on 9 August 1910, he was promoted Able Seaman on 2 July 1912, and served during the Great War in H.M.S. Lion, from 23 October 1914 to 20 May 1919, and was present at the Battle of Dogger Bank, 24 January 1915; and the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, where the Lion served as the flagship of Admiral Beatty’s Battlecruiser Fleet- she was hit a total of 14 times during the battle, including sustaining near-catastrophic damage to Q-turret, and suffered 99 dead and 51 wounded. Although mortally wounded, Major Francis Harvey, Royal Marines, the Q-turret gun commander, ordered the magazine and turret to be flooded, which although costing him his life saved the magazine from exploding, which would undoubtedly have sunk the ship; for his bravery and self sacrifice he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

Delaney transferred to H.M.S. Impregnable on 1 February 1920, and served in her until being shore pensioned on 26 June 1923. He joined the Royal Fleet Reserve the following day, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 2 October 1925. He died in Lancaster in 1969.

Sold with photographic images of H.M.S. Lion, together with one of her crew; and copied research.