Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Able Seaman H. A. Kidd, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (J12743 A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.12743 A.B., R.N.); together with a modern reduced size facsimile of a memorial plaque, 82mm, inscribed ‘Henry Arthur Kidd’; H.M.S. Bulwark cap tally; and two contemporary postcards of H.M.S. Bulwark, nearly extremely fine (3) £80-100

Henry Arthur Kidd was killed at Scapa Flow on 26 November 1914, when H.M.S. Bulwark blew up in unexplained circumstances near Sheerness, with the loss of over 700 lives. During the Great War the Royal Navy lost 4 ships to internal explosions whilst lying in harbour, the other three being, H.M.S. Natal, H.M.S. Princess Irene and H.M.S. 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. Only fourteen men survived the sinking of H.M.S. Bulwark. Sold with copy service record and other details.