Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Commissioned Engineer W. Barnes, H.M.S. Ajax, Royal Navy, who died in service in 1928

1914-15 Star (Art. Eng. W. Barnes. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Art. Eng. W. Barnes. R.N.) good very fine (3) £100-£140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals for the Battle of Jutland.

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The dreadnought battleship H.M.S. Ajax was launched on 21 March 1912 and was part of the 2nd Battle Squadron at the Battle of Jutland.

William Barnes was born at Moushole, Cornwall, on 6 October 1881 and joined the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer Fourth Class on 9 June 1903. He transferred to the Officers Section, as an Acting Artificer Engineer, on 31 August 1914, and served during the Great War in H.M.S. Ajax, being confirmed as an Artificer Engineer on 11 September 1915. He transferred to H.M.S. Actaeon, for service in Torpedo Boat 20, on 20 May 1919, with his rank altered to Warrant Engineer, and was promoted Commissioned Engineer on 1 September 1924. Serving in H.M.S. Cyclamen in the East Indies, he died in service of heart failure brought about by heat exhaustion on 28 June 1928.