Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Chief Officer L. E. W. Reeve, Royal Navy - who was Second-in Command at the Coastguard’s War Signal Station at Scarborough Castle when it and the town was shelled by German surface ships, 16 December 1914

British War Medal 1914-20 (Ch. Offr. L. E. W. Reeves, R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (L. E. W. Reeve, Comd. Boatn. H.M. Coast Guard); together with a Silver War Badge (RN41466) nearly extremely fine (3) £200-260

Lawrence Edward William Reeve was born in Hastings, Sussex on 11 September 1867. He entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 2 January 1884 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class Signals in January 1885. On H.M.S. Triumph he was promoted to Signaller 3rd Class in September 1885; Signaller 2nd Class in March 1886 and Qualified Signaller in November 1888. He was promoted to 2nd Yeoman of Signals when on H.M.S. Excellent in February 1889. Reeves was transferred to the Coastguard at Worthing in January 1895 and was appointed a Commissioned Boatman in January 1900, being awarded his Royal Navy L.S. & G.C. in October the same year. He was appointed Chief Boatman in February 1907 when based at Clovelly; and Petty Officer in April 1910 when at Rhossili. Reeve was transferred to Scarborough in November 1910 with the rank of Chief Petty Officer in December 1910 and Chief Officer in October 1915. Later appointments were at Mevagissy, November 1918 and Lundy Islands, November 1918-April 1919. Chief Officer Reeve died of cancer in October 1919.

Lawrence Reeve was Second-in-Command at the Coastguard’s War Signal Station at Scarborough Castle when it and the town were shelled by the German battlecruisers Derfflinger and Von der Tann and the light cruiser Kolberg on 16 December 1914. The bombardment lasted for just over an hour. The Signal Station was the only target of any military importance in the town; this was hit as well as the Castle and the prominent Grand Hotel, together with several churches and private dwellings. The attack causing widespread panic. The ships proceeding northwards, then went on to bombard Whitby, which like Scarborough, had little or no military value. Reeve gave extensive evidence at the inquests following the raid.

Chief Officer Reeve was still based at Scarborough when the S.S. Phare was sunk by the German submarine UB-35 off Hayburn Wyke, near Scarborough, on 31 October 1917. Thirteen men were killed in the attack. It took some two hours before the survivors in the water, who were holding on to wreckage, were rescued. The Admiralty are recorded as having expressed their displeasure at the want of initiative shown by the crew of the Scarborough W.S.S. (War Signal Station) on the occasion of the sinking of the S.S. Phare.

Chief Officer Reeve is confirmed as having been awarded Silver War Badge ‘RN41455’ in July 1919. Badge number ‘RN41466’ (above) was awarded to A8777 Leading Seaman P. Rourke, R.N.

With damaged named card box lid for the B.W.M. and copied service papers, reports and roll extracts; also extracts of an account of the bombardment by Reeve’s son.