Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Nine: Leading Stoker W. H. George, H.M.S. Lion, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (K.23892, W. H. George, Sto.1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (K.23892. W. H. George. Sto.1 R.N.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (K.23892 W. H. George. L. Sto. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (K.23892 W. H. George. L. Sto. H.M.S. Ormonde) light contact marks to the G.V.R. awards, these very fine; the G.VI.R. awards nearly extremely fine (9) £240-£280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals for the Battle of Jutland.

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The battle cruiser H.M.S. Lion was launched on 6 August 1910 and was Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty’s fleet flagship of the Battle Cruiser Fleet at the Battle of Jutland. She was hit a total of 14 times during the battle, including sustaining near-catastrophic damage to Q-turret, and suffered 99 dead and 51 wounded. Although mortally wounded, Major Francis Harvey, Royal Marines, the Q-turret gun commander, ordered the magazine and turret to be flooded, which although costing him his life saved the magazine from exploding, which would undoubtedly have sunk the ship; for his bravery and self sacrifice he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

William Harold George was born at Stonehouse, Devon, on 6 November 1893 and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class on 18 January 1915. He joined H.M.S. Lion on 16 April 1915, and served in her for the rest of the Great War, being advanced Leading Stoker on 1 June 1919. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 28 February 1930, and served in H.M.S. Delhi during the operations in pre-War Palestine. He was shore pensioned on 17 January 1937, but was recalled for service on 23 August 1939, and served during the Second World War in various ships and shore based establishments.