Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Stoker Petty Officer R. Hayes, Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. Warspite at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916

1914-15 Star (293358. R. Hayes. S.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (293358 R. Hayes. S.P.O. R.N.) contact marks, nearly very fine (3) £60-£80

Richard Hayes was born at Arthurstown, Co. Wexford, Ireland, on 9 October 1878 and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class on 27 October 1899. Advanced Stoker Petty Officer on 1 April 1915, he joined H.M.S. Warspite on 5 April 1915, ands served in her to 3 November 1916, seeing action at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916. At Jutland Warspite was hit by no fewer than 13 ‘large projectiles’, several of them when her helm jammed and forced her out of line. Making an involuntary circle at ‘Windy Corner’, she became the prime target of the ‘big guns’ of the High Seas Fleet.

Hayes was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 16 December 1920, and was shore pensioned 8 November 1921, joining the Royal Fleet Reserve the following day.