Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (342658 Edward Codling, Cooper., H.M.S. Latona.) extremely fine £100-£120

Edward Codling was born at Auckinleek, Ayrshire, on 27 March 1877, and joined the Royal Navy as a carpenter on 5 April 1899. He was advanced to 2nd Cooper on 18 July 1900, and to 1st Cooper on 18 July 1904. He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal on 29 April 1914, whilst aboard H.M.S. Latona, which he left on 8 March 1915 to join H.M.S. Princess Irene, a newly built passenger steamer requisitioned by the Royal Navy from the Canadian Pacific Railway Company in January 1915. Converted for minelaying, she had successfully completed two operations when, on 27 May 1915, she suddenly exploded at her moorings in the River Medway with the total loss of the ship and all but one of the crew of about 400. Cooper Edward Codling was amongst those who died in the explosion which was caused by the accidental detonation of one of her 400 mines, most of which had been primed the previous day. Sold with copied record of service and a detailed booklet about the disaster, Blown to Eternity! The loss of H.M.S. Princess Irene, by John Hendy.