Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Stoker First Class J. Darling, Royal Navy, who was killed in action when H.M.S. Queen Mary was sunk during the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916

British War and Victory Medals (K.27653 J. Darling. Sto.1 R.N.) good very fine (2) £80-£120

John Darling was born in Durham on 4 June 1888 and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class on 4 August 1915. Promoted Stoker First Class on 9 October 1915, he joined H.M.S. Queen Mary on 27 April 1916, and he was killed in action at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. During the battle H.M.S. Queen Mary, under the command of Captain C. I. Prowse, engaged the Derfflinger, putting one of her turrets out of action, and then scored four hits on SMS Seydlitz. The German battlecruiser hit back striking ´Q´ turret before sending more 12 inch shells to hit near ´A´ and ´B´ turrets before scoring another hit on ´Q´ turret. Queen Mary´s forward magazine exploded, the ship listed to port and began to sink amid more explosions. 1,266 of the crew went down with her, with only 18 men surviving. Darling is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.