Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Able Seaman H. S. Main, Royal Navy, who served afloat in both World Wars and was present at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, and at the sinking of the Scharnhorst at the Battle of North Cape, 26 December 1943

1914-15 Star (J.23295 H. S. Main. Ord. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.23295 H. S. Main. A.B. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (J.23295 H. S. Main. A.B. H.M.S. Tiger.) minor edge bruising, polished and worn, therefore fine (4) £100-£140

Harry Scotson Main was born in Liverpool on 10 October 1897, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 24 February 1913. He spent the majority of the Great War serving in H.M.S. Duke of Edinburgh and was present at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916. Promoted Able Seaman on 1 November 1916, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 13 November 1930. Shore pensioned on 30 October 1937, he was recalled for Second War service, and after serving afloat in H.M.S. Cardiff in the Northern Patrol, he later served in H.M.S. Duke of York, which transported Winston Churchill across the Atlantic to the United States of America for the meeting with President F. D. Roosevelt in December 1941. After service in North Africa and Italy, Duke of York was actively engaged in the sinking of the German Battle Cruiser Scharnhorst at the Battle of the North Cape, off Norway, on 26 December 1943, in what was the last big-gun battle between capital ships in the War between Britain and Germany. Main was released to Class A Reserve on 9 August 1945.