Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

Memorial Plaque (2) (Arthur James Bartlett; William Bartlett) good very fine (2) £80-£100

Arthur James Bartlett was born in Battersea, London, and joined the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman. He served during the Great War in H.M.S. Natal, and was killed when the Natal was sunk by an internal explosion that destroyed the armoured cruiser whilst at anchor in the Cromarty Firth on 30 December 1915. Out of her complement of over 700 men more than half (25 officers and 380 ratings) perished. The loss of life would have been even greater had not most of the off-duty watch been absent on shore leave at the time. Watkiss is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

During the Great War the Royal Navy lost 4 ships to internal explosions whilst lying in harbour, the other three being, H.M. Ships Bulwark, Princess Irene and Vanguard. At the time there was much speculation that these losses were due to sabotage by enemy agents. However, the more likely explanation is that they were the result of the deterioration of the stocks of high explosives carried on board.

Natal’s upturned hull remained visible at low water for many years, and right up until the Second World War it was R.N. practice on entering and leaving Cromarty for every warship to sound “Still” and for officers and men to come to attention as they passed the wreck.

Sold together with the recipient’s hand-made identity disc ‘A. J. Bartlett, Ord. Sn. J20895 C.E.’, fashioned from coin, with portrait of George V to obverse; and a H.M.S. Natal medallion presented to H.M.S. Natal by the People of Natal 1915.

William Daniel Bartlett, brother of the above, attested for the South Lancashire Regiment, and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front. Captured and taken Prisoner of War, he died in captivity on 15 August 1917 and is buried in Hamburg Cemetery.

Sold together with a South Lancashire Regiment lapel badge.