Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Leading Stoker E. Morris, Royal Navy, who survived the sinking of H.M.S. Britannia on 9 November 1918

1914-15 Star (283939, E. Morris, L.Sto., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (283939 E. Morris. L. Sto. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (283939 Ernest Morris, Lg. Stoker, H.M.S. Hermes.) minor edge nicks, very fine £80-£120

Ernest Morris, a labourer from Hastings, Sussex, was born on 14 July 1877. Enlisting in the Royal Navy on 10 November 1896, he was promoted Leading Stoker on 1 June 1909, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 10 January 1912, whilst serving in H.M.S. Hermes. He spent his entire Great War service in H.M.S. Britannia, and survived her sinking off Cape Trafalgar on 9 November 1918, just two days before the armistice, when she was torpedoed by German submarine UB50 with the loss of 50 men. He was demobilised on 19 February 1919 and shore pensioned on 24 May 1919.