Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Able Seaman W. H. Archard, Royal Navy, who was aboard H.M.S. Broke when, with H.M.S. Swift, they fought an outstanding action with six German destroyers in April 1917

1914-15 Star (J.26359. W. H. Archard. Boy. 1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J. 26359 W. H. Archard. A.B. R.N.) together with named card boxes of issue, these reinforced with sellotape, extremely fine (3) £50-£60

William Henry Archard was born on 9 February 1898, in Chippenham, Wiltshire. His occupation was listed as labourer- iron work. He began his naval career at the age of 15 as a Boy 2nd class on 8 August 1913 aboard H.M.S. Impregnable and served primarily on Depot Ships until December 1914, after which he served on the Armed Merchant Cruiser Virginian which was part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron, used to maintain the blockade of the North Sea, its patrol area extending from the Norwegian coast far into the Atlantic. She may have been better known however because of a well known incident two years earlier when the Virginian served the North Atlantic for the Allan Line and, in 1912, was in communication with the Titanic when she stuck the Iceberg. The Virginian was 300 miles off the coast of Halifax at the time and was one of the ships that steamed to the site in response to the disaster but it proved fruitless since she was estimated to be about 170 miles from the site, a distance that was too great to be of practical help. Virginian also features in the story in another way since many of the newspapers reported erroneously that “Passengers transferred to the Parisian and Carpathia, while Virginian takes vessel in tow to Halifax”.

Archard served on Virginian until March 1916 and spent time on some other depot ships before joining H.M.S. Broke in August 1916. He was promoted to A.B. in January 1917 and served on Broke until January 1918. He was on board Broke during the battle of Dover Strait in April 1917, when H.M.S. Broke and H.M.S. Swift engaged six German destroyers. A torpedo from H.M.S. Swift sank one of the enemy destroyers, G-85, then Broke deliberately rammed another, G-42; the two ships became locked together and there was fighting on Broke's deck until the Broke managed to break free and the German destroyer sank with 36 souls on board. Broke was badly damaged and was towed home. Her commander, Edward Evans became a popular hero and was known in the British press as “Evans of the Broke”

Archard’s conduct while serving was described as Very Good and he received a Free Discharge in January 1920. Sold with research.