Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Chief Stoker J. W. Holmans, Royal Navy
1914-15 Star (280330. J. W. Holmans. S.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (280330 J. W. Holmans. Ch. Sto. R.N.) generally nearly very fine or better

Three: Armourer’s Mate W. A. Wood, Royal Navy
1914-15 Star (M.1801 [sic], W. A. Wood. Ar. Cr., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M.8101 W. A. Wood. Amr. Cr. R.N.) mounted for display, good very fine (6) £80-£120

John William Holmans was born in Sandwich, Kent in August 1872. He joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class in September 1895, and advanced to Chief Stoker in January 1917. Holmans served with H.M.S. Penelope (light cruiser), 10 December 1914 - 28 July 1916, during which time she was heavily damaged by a torpedo fired from the German submarine UB-29 off the Norfolk coast. He was Shore Demobilised in February 1919.

William Arthur Wood was born in Leicester in January 1895. He joined the Royal Navy as Armourer’s Crew in August 1914. He served with H.M.S. Furious, 3 August 1917 - 19 November 1917, during which time Squadron Commander E. Dunning carried out the first landings of aircraft on a moving ship - being killed during one attempt, 7 August 1917. Wood advanced to Armourer’s Mate, and was Shore Demobilised in June 1919.