Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Leading Seaman H. Wicks, Royal Navy

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (231240 A.B., H.M.S. Philomel); 1914-15 Star (231240 L.S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (231240 L.S., R.N.) extremely fine (4) £160-200

Henry Wicks was killed on 26 November 1914, when the predreadnaught battleship H.M.S. Bulwark blew up in unexplained circumstances on the Medway, near Sheerness, with the loss of over 700 lives. During the Great War the Royal Navy lost 4 ships to internal explosions whilst lying in harbour, the other three being, H.M.Ships Natal, 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. Only fourteen men survived the sinking of H.M.S. Bulwark. Having no known grave, Henry Wick’s name is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.