Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Mechanician H. J. Batstone, Royal Navy

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 copy clasp, Cape Colony (H. J. Batstone Sto., H.M.S. Naiad.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (H. J. Batstone. Sto. H.M.S. Naiad.); 1914-15 Star (286015, H. J. Batstone, Mech., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (286015 H. J. Batstone. Mech. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (286015 H. J. Batstone. Actg. Mechn. H.M.S. Dreadnought.) first two with minor edge wear, light contact marks, otherwise very fine and better (6) £360-£440

Herbert James Batstone was born on 7 December 1878, at Newchurch, Isle of Wight. He commenced naval service as Stoker Second Class in H.M.S. Victory II, on 17 September 1897, and was advanced to Stoker, H.M.S. Calliope, on 1 July 1898. He served in H.M.S. Naiad from 19 March 1901 to 2 August 1904. He was advanced to Stoker First Class, H.M.S. Berwick, on 1 July 1906, and Leading Stoker, on 10 August 1906. He was further advanced to Acting Stoker Petty Officer, H.M.S. Goliath, on 20 February 1908, and Stoker Petty Officer, H.M.S. Orion, on 19 February 1909. He attained the rank of Acting Mechanician, H.M.S. Pembroke II, on 1 January 1912, followed by a posting to H.M.S. Dreadnought, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in September 1912. He was confirmed as Mechanician on 31 December 1912. During the Great War he served in H.M.S. Victory and H.M.S. Caledon. He was discharged to shore on demobilization on 15 November 1919. He died in 1939 at Southampton.

Note: Batstone appears on the medal roll for the Queen’s South Africa Medal for service in H.M.S. Naiad, but does not appear to be entitled to the Cape Colony clasp.