A Collection of Medals for the Battle of Jutland

Three: Stoker Petty Officer W. J. Stevens, H.M.S. Lion, Royal Navy, late Royal Marine Light Infantry

1914-15 Star (K.4078, W. J. Stevens. L. Sto., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (K.4078 W. J. Stevens. S.P.O. R.N.) polished, contact marks and edge bruising, good fine (3) £70-£90

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

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The battle cruiser H.M.S. Lion was launched on 6 August 1910 and was Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty’s fleet flagship of the Battle Cruiser Fleet at the Battle of Jutland. She was hit a total of 14 times during the battle, including sustaining near-catastrophic damage to Q-turret, and suffered 99 dead and 51 wounded. Although mortally wounded, Major Francis Harvey, Royal Marines, the Q-turret gun commander, ordered the magazine and turret to be flooded, which although costing him his life saved the magazine from exploding, which would undoubtedly have sunk the ship; for his bravery and self sacrifice he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

William John Stevens was born at Swindon, Wiltshire, on 26 November 1888 and enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, with service number Ply.13840, at Deal, Kent, on 22 August 1906. Posted to the Plymouth Division, he served in H.M.S. Niobe and H.M.S. Suffolk before transferring to the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class on 31 July 1909, and was re-numbered K.4078. He served during the Great War in H.M.S. Lion from September 1914 to 28 September 1917, and was advanced to Stoker Petty Officer on 28 September 1917. He was shore pensioned on 25 November 1928.

Sold with copied service papers.