Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Ordinary Seaman R. Stanley, Royal Navy, who was killed when H.M.S. Vanguard suffered a series of explosions at anchor in Scapa Flow on 9 July 1917

1914-15 Star (J.31560, R. Stanley, Ord., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.31560 R. Stanley. A.B. R.N.) light spotting to VM, otherwise good very fine (3) £80-£100

Reginald Stanley was born at Birmingham on 19 July 1896 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Vivid I, on 10 June 1914. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman, H.M.S. Impregnable, on 10 December 1914 and Able Seaman, H.M.S. Vanguard, on 19 July 1916. He was killed when H.M.S. Vanguard, at anchor in Scapa Flow, suffered a series of magazine explosions shortly before midnight on 9 July 1917: she sank almost instantly, killing 843 of the 845 men aboard. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.