Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (3) (J. 46475. H. V. Staveley. P.O. H.M.S. Active.; K. 61846 H, Watson. S.P.O. H.M.S. Glorious; J.87437 L. B. Woodhead. A.B. H.M.S. Dauntless.) light contact marks, generally very fine and better (3) £120-£160

Harold Vasey Staveley was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire on 8 November 1899. He enlisted into the Royal Navy in November 1915 as a Boy Second Class and first served with the shore establishment H.M.S. Ganges. During the Great War his service including postings on the pre-dreadnought battleship H.M.S. Albion and the destroyer H.M.S. Tetrarch. Following the war he served with several ships and shore establishments including the sloop H.M.S. Merlin, the light cruiser H.M.S. Curacoa and the gunboat H.M.S. Calcutta. He was awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal whilst serving with the destroyer H.M.S. Active. On the outbreak of the Second World War, Staveley was serving with the battleship H.M.S. Nelson.

Harry Watson was born in Keighley, Yorkshire on 19 June 1900. He enlisted into the Royal Navy in June 1918. Throughout his naval career he served with several ships and shore establishments including the dreadnought battleship H.M.S. King George V and the heavy cruiser H.M.S. Frobisher. In February 1925 he transferred to H.M.S. Dolphin and joined the submarine service, serving aboard the modified K-class submarine H.M.S. K26 and the D-Group subs. He was awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal whilst on the crew of the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Glorious. On the outbreak of the Second World War, Watson was serving with the minesweeper H.M.S. Salamander.

Leonard Barrett Woodhead was born in Leeds, Yorkshire on 17 July 1902. He enlisted into the Royal Navy in April 1918 as a Boy Second Class and first served with the training establishment H.M.S. Impregnable. Throughout his naval career he served with several ships and establishments including the battleships H.M.S. Barham and Warspite, and the shore establishments H.M.S. Fisgard and Vernon. Between May 1932 and April 1935 he served on attachment to the New Zealand Navy, serving with the light cruiser H.M.S. Dunedin, one of the ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. He was awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal whilst on the crew of the light cruiser H.M.S. Dauntless. Shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War, Woodhead was posted to light cruiser H.M.S. Coventry, remaining with her until July 1941. On 18 May 1941 the first Victoria Cross of the Mediterranean campaign was awarded posthumously to Petty Officer Alfred Edward Sephton while on HMS Coventry as she was being attacked on 17 May 1941 by German Stuka dive bombers off the coast of Crete. Following his service with Coventry, Woodhead transferred to the submarine depot ship H.M.S. Medway. On 30 June 1942, off Port Said, Egypt Medway was torpedoed and sunk by the German U-boat U-372.