Seven: Lieutenant C. E. Bounton, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (Gnr. C. E. Bounton. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Gnr C. E. Bounton. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals; Naval Good Shooting Medal, G.V.R. (190817 C. E. Bounton, P.O. 1Cl., H.M.S. Neptune. 1911. 12 In. B.L.) mounted as worn, good very fine (7) £600-700

M.I.D. London Gazette 15 August 1915 (Vice Admiral John de Robeck’s despatch for the Gallipoli landings).

Charles Edward Bounton was born at Alverstoke, Hampshire, on 23 April 1881. He joined the Royal Navy in September 1896 as a Boy Seaman and on reaching the age of 18 years he engaged for 12 years’ service. At that time he was 5 feet 4 inches tall with brown hair, light blue eyes and a fresh complexion, and had a toe missing from his left foot.

In the early years of his service he was in the battleship Resolution in the Channel Fleet (1898-1900), the armoured cruiser Aboukir (1902-04) and the battleship Barfleur (1905-07). He also attended courses at Excellent, the gunnery training institution at Whale Island, near Portsmouth. His character was consistently rated as ‘Very Good’ and he achieved steady promotion, being rated Able Seaman in 1905, Leading Seaman in 1907, and Petty Officer in 1908. In January 1911 he was appointed to the dreadnought battleship Neptune at the beginning of her first commission. Laid down at Portsmouth in January 1909, she displaced 19,900 tons and had a main armament of ten 12-inch guns. In 1911 Bounton was awarded the Naval Good Shooting medal for his excellence with the 12-inch guns aboard H.M.S. Neptune in the Fleet Gunnery Competition of that year.

In March 1911 Bounton was promoted to Gunner, a Warrant Officer rank, and then appointed to the cruiser Furious. His commanding officer reported on him favourably: ‘Physical qualities VG. A zealous officer who performs well.” He subsequently served in Melpomone and then in destroyers before being appointed to the staff of Excellent in May 1914.

In December 1914 Bounton was appointed Gunner in H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth, thus becoming the Warrant Officer charged with care of all the weapons, magazines, shell-rooms and naval ordnance stores of the most modern and powerful capital ship in the Royal Navy. Queen Elizabeth arrived in the Dardanelles on 19 February 1915 and played an active part in the harassment of the Turks and in supporting the landings on the Gallipoli peninsula. However, as a result of the sinking of H.M.S. Goliath in May 1915, it was decided that the risk of losing one of our finest ships was too great and she was withdrawn home to Scapa Flow at the end of May.

In March 1916 Bounton was transferred to P26, a patrol boat. These small vessels were used for patrol and escort work, and were armed with one 4-inch gun, two torpedo tubes and depth charges. Bounton’s commanding officer commented, ‘This officer appears to be wasted in a small ship as he has thorough knowledge of big guns and Director firing.’ He was transferred to the monitor Marshal Soult in February 1917, part of the Dover Patrol deployed to bombard submarine bases and other German defence facilities in occupied Belgium. In October 1918 his commanding officer assessed him as ‘Above Average,’ observing ‘Has carried out with success the duties of Director Officer during many engagements with German batteries and vessels on the Belgian coast. He has kept sea-watch and has proved a good Instructional Gunner. Specially recommended for advancement to Lieutenant.’

From January 1919 to May 1921 Bounton was on the staff of Excellent, in charge of the rifle range. Having previously distinguished himself at the 12 inch guns he then demonstrated his versatility as ‘an exceptional rifle and pistol shot.’ In this and subsequent postings to Excellent (1923-25 and 1928-31) he was also described as an exceptional instructor, especially in bringing along the young seamen, zealous and reliable, and physically fit. During this time he was promoted to Commissioned Gunner in 1921 and to Lieutenant in 1927.

Other post-war appointments included the battleship Thunderer, a sea-going training ship for cadets (1921-23), an attachment to the Royal Australian Navy (1925-27) and the battle-cruiser Tiger (1927-28). He retired to his pension in 1931. Bounton returned to service in September 1939 and served first at Eaglet, the shore base at Liverpool, then at Excellent, and Boscawen, the depot ship at Portland. He reverted to the retired list in May 1945.

Sold with full research including a number of contemporary post cards of H.M.S. Neptune and Queen Elizabeth.