Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Gunner F. Davenport, Royal Marine Artillery, killed in the explosion which destroyed H.M.S. Natal, 30 December 1915

British War and Victory Medals (R.M.A. 5417 Gr.) extremely fine (2) £60-80

Gunner Frank Davenport, R.M.A., was killed on 30 December 1915, when his ship, the armoured cruiser H.M.S. Natal was sunk by an internal explosion when at anchor in the Cromarty Firth. The explosion was due to unstable cordite exploding in the magazines. His name is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

During the Great War the Royal Navy lost 4 ships to internal explosions whilst lying in harbour, the other three being, H.M.Ships Bulwark, Princess Irene and Vanguard. At the time there was much speculation that these losses were due to sabotage by enemy agents. However, the more likely explanation is that they were the result of the deterioration of the stocks of high explosives carried on board.

Natal’s upturned hull remained visible at low water for many years, and right up until the 1939-45 War it was R.N. practice on entering and leaving Cromarty for every warship to sound “Still” and for officers and men to come to attention as they passed the wreck.