Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Victory Medal awarded to Engine Room Artificer Fourth Class H. S. Burton, Royal Navy, who was killed in action during the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, when H.M.S Defence exploded after being hit by two salvoes from SMS Derfflinger and several other German battleships, and sank with the loss of all hands

Victory Medal 1914-19 (M.11415 H. S. Burton. E.R.A. 4. R.N.) edge nicks, good very fine £80-£100

Hugh Stanley Burton was born in Islington London, on 1 February 1888 and joined the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer Fourth Class on 12 January 1915. Posted to H.M.S. Defence on 9 February 1915, he was confirmed in his rate on 23 February 1916, and served in the Defence, the flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot, at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May - 1 June 1916. At Jutland the armoured cruisers H.M.S. Defence and Warrior were closing with the disabled German light cruiser Wiesbaden, when they came under concentrated fire from the battlecruiser Derfflinger and four battleships at less than 8,000 yards. The Defence was hit by two salvoes which caused the detonation of a magazine and surrounding ammunition, and she exploded, with the loss of all hands. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.