Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Stoker Petty Officer J. Benham, H.M.S. Broke, Royal Navy, who subsequently took part in the celebrated ‘Swift and Broke’ action of April 1917

1914-15 Star (K.4675, J. Benham. L. Sto., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (K.4675 J. Benham. S.P.O. R.N.) nearly extremely fine (3) £120-£160

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

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The destroyer H.M.S. Broke was launched on 25 May 1914 and was part of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla at the Battle of Jutland where, after hits from several German ships, she lost control and collided with H.M.S. Sparrowhawk, leading to the latter’s loss.

James Benham was born in Southampton on 3 August 1885 and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class on 7 February 1906. Advanced Leading Stoker on 22 February 1912, he served during the Great War in H.M.S. Broke from 9 December 1914 to 8 February 1918, and was promoted Stoker Petty Officer on 20 April 1916. As well as being present at the Battle of Jutland, Benham subsequently took part in the famous Swift and Broke action of 20-21 April 1917.

On the night of 20-21 April 1917, six German destroyers left their bases on the Flanders coast and made a raid on Dover. Shortly after midnight the destroyers H.M.S. Swift and H.M.S. Broke, just east of the Goodwins, sighted ships approaching on an opposite course. The Germans opened fire, and scored several hits on the Swift. She turned to ram but missed, passed through the German line and scored some hits too. She then fired a torpedo which hit G.85. Swift had been sorely hit, had wireless out of action, damage to bridge and 4 ft of water in the stokers mess-deck, 1 crew killed and 4 wounded. She turned to follow the Germans but was unable to keep up, so made her way home.

At the start of the fight H.M.S. Broke also opened fire with guns and torpedo, but failed to score. She then rammed G.42 amidships at 27 knots. Locked together, Broke’s sailors had to repel German borders in hand to hand fighting while Broke’s guns poured fire into G.42 at point blank range. While this battle was going on the last two German torpedo boats in the line sailed past and fired into Broke. She managed to break clear of G.42 and started limping eastwards after H.M.S. Swift. Broke had suffered damage to her boiler rooms with steam dropping, half of the bridge was on fire and the decks had been swept by gunfire. As she sailed away both G.85 and G.42 fired on Broke. She then turned back and fired on both German destroyers, silencing their guns. The battle ended at quarter past one. Both German destroyers sank shortly after.

Benham was shore discharged, time expired, on 27 March 1920.

Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of H.M.S. Broke.